Chapters (Now, before we get started, I'd like to point something out. The hyperlinks strewn throughout the entirety of the story are links to YouTube songs. I personally have a much more gratifying experience reading with music than without, but alas, I'm my own man. After all, you're the reader. Enjoy.)
I, am Night.
The gateway between dusk, and dawn.
I give unto the world a period of grace; a time for rest, recovery, and relaxation.
The cool, crisp evening air of an otherwise dry and desolate Equestria is held within the cusp of my hooves, and is mine alone to control.
Without me, the ponies I care for would become wrapped within an everlasting diurnal monologue, disintegrating as they became one with the very soil that of which their grandfather's first settled.
Now, I digress. I've always been thought of as the second-tier princess. Tartarus, even my own sister knows of the anguish that plagues me. I can see it in those violet eyes. The two of us have always been referred to as "Sun and Moon" or, "Day and Night". Never the other way around.
However, that twitch, that one thing that really gets under my skin, is the reason why I was treated with such downright contempt from my citizens.
The fact that I, Luna, the sole proprietor of the night, am to be banished to the moon for one-thousand years on account of the charges that I "Challenged the rightful rule of day."
The fools, they know not of the disaster that would unfurl if I were to choose not to go!
Throughout my many years on this planet, never had I experienced such a hideous evil other than that of Nocturn. A wicked magic, capable of haunting the hearts and minds of all it touches. It's hunger knows no bounds, and would do anything to --even at the mere thought of-- escape its astral prison.
I suppose that, in the end, the minds of the Equestrians were in the right place.
I have to go.
In the end, I can only hope that when the time comes, the evil I'm to consume can be destroyed.
~The last conscious thoughts of I, Princess Luna, ~~former~~ regent of the night.
Spike whistled a low pitched melody to himself as he finished reading Daydreamers , a chronicling of notes and sketches that had detailed the short weeks leading up to Luna's banishment. Apparently, the entries had been hoof-written by the princess herself. Now, under normal circumstances documents such as these would be the most highly-classified pieces of paper in the kingdom, however, Spike was a rare exception. Other than being the assistant to Celestia's personal protege, Twilight sparkle, Spike was trusted with historical documents for a few solid reasons.
For one, the dragon would ultimately outlive the next several generations, and would prove useful for aiding the princesses with internal affairs involving past-incidents. And two, Spike had been raised to never tell a soul (outside of royalty) the sensitive information that he learned within the confines of the castle --even if it meant sacrificing his life-- to keep Equestria safe.
"My good sir, would you mind returning these articles to the top shelf? If that's not, uhh, too much trouble. Of course . Heh." Spike said in a meager voice to the royal guard across the room.
Putting down a book, the guard nodded once and, with a whirl of magic, returned the terminal issue of Daydreamers to its strongbox. "That was the final copy of the Princess's pre-banishment literary works, Master Spike. I'm sorry to say that there isn't any more on the subject of Nocturn in all the libraries of Equestria," The unicorn convoyer said solemnly. "Or at least the ones we know of. Would you like to mayhaps try another series? I hear Mood Wings is a particular favorite among the teen demographic."
The slumped dragon merely shook his head. "Not today, Greeves. If anything, I should be getting some rest. From the sun, I'd say it's almost..." Spike began to say apprehensively. After a moment of staring out the stained-glass window, Greeves coughed before laying a gentle hoof on Spike's left shoulder.
"It's half-past six, sir." The guard spoke mellowly. "And, might I add, perfectly weathered for an evening stroll."
Spike's chipper attitude seemed to dull at the mention of the time, but quickly returned at the thought of taking a stroll through the Canterlot Gardens. Aside from the occasional convention, the gardens were home to a plethora of wildlife --none of which were harmful-- that a pony could enjoy as they collected their thoughts. "Y'know, Greeves, I couldn't help but agree more. After all this studying about "Nocturn" and "Daydreamers", I think a walk is just what the doctor ordered. Could you, uhh, maybe tell Twilight that I'll be back in about an hour? I'm sure she'd be worried sick if I just, disappeared. Heh."
The idyllic Greeves smiled. "But of course, master Spike. But before you go, could I perchance offer you some words of wisdom?" The trustful guard said casually.
Spike finished packing his bag before looking up at Greeves quizzically. "By all means Greeves, you know I'd never turn down advice from you! You're practically family!" The drake exclaimed in a wistful tone. "Shoot."
With a sigh, the guard took a few tentative steps towards the young dragon, assisting him with his pack. "I've been around the castle a long time, master Spike. Long enough to know when there's magic in the air, and certainly long enough to know when something...or somepony , isn't right. I don't know what Ms. Sparkle hopes to learn from the princess's journals, but I hope she uncovers it soon," Greeves said quietly, looking over his shoulder twice before leaning into Spike's ear. "No ponies other than the princesses have touched Daydreamers in over thirty years. The fact that the Alicorns have once more taken personal interest in these prehistoric texts is...unsettling." The old guard said anxiously, but not without a hint of optimism. "But here I am, rambling on about some dusty old tomes. I'll inform Ms. Sparkle of your departure immediately. Enjoy your walk, sir."
Spike, who had been shuffling insecurely in his wooden chair, cracked a wry, but generous smile. "Greeves, you never ramble. I'm thankful for the information, but I doubt that anything supernatural is going on," The dragon said in a dignified tone. "And besides, when has a little history ever harmed anypony?"
As Spike spoke, a shadow flew past the window the guardspony had looked out only moments earlier. After a moment of concern, Greeves had figured it was only a bird and opened the door to the courtyard, allowing the contented Spike into the garden. "Heh, if I had a bit for every time a pony's said those words, I certainly wouldn't need to keep this job."
Spike's ears pricked up at Greeves's last remark. "In case guarding the royal library isn't your cup of tea, I hear the Ponyville hoof-ball team is looking for an assistant coach this year," He said joyfully, cracking himself up. "I'll put in a good word for you. 'Ex-royal guard, 6.5, white coat, whiter beard, and a philosophical disposition: looking for employment' sounds good, right?"
Greeves merely face-hooved. "Enjoy your walk, master Spike. and please, try not to get lost." The old guard said tiredly, turning back towards the library. "Hoof-ball...the day it rains chocolate milk." And with a flash of magic, Greeves was away.
The sun was resting over the western horizon as Spike made his way from the cooling marble stairway towards the garden. Inhaling deeply, he cleared his mind and proceeded towards the maze. "Ahh...finally some time to clear my head. All this reading about dreams is driving me insane," Spike said to himself thoughtfully, but stopping a moment later. "I mean look at me! Talking to myself like I've just escaped an insane asylum..."
Without a second thought, the young, dreamy Spike began to traverse the paths towards the Canterlot Garden's famous mazes. After living in the tower for seven eighths of his life, he knew each of the puzzles like the smell of his feet. Navigating the physical mazes was nothing more than a simple chore to Spike by now, but the maze itself is not why so many ponies came to traverse them. The mystical properties housed within the hedges and shrubbery would occasionally cause it to alter its own course, depending on the individual and their mood. Spike had always tried to retain a calming atmosphere about himself, resulting in a nice, calming trek to the center.
At the entrance to the maze sat a small pond, inhabited only by a pair of Yin and Yang fish. Deciding to rest his legs before starting what would likely be a half-hour journey, Spike sat himself on a small wooden bench about four feet in length. "Bubbles, Sandy," He said to the fish in a tranquil tone. "How's work been treatin' ya? Kids still doing good in school?" The fish swam to the surface and looked Spike in the eyes. Even though they couldn't say anything, he knew they were listening. "Heh, get it? School? Like a school of fish? Ahh, I knew you would! I think I'm going to go on a little stroll...would either of you care to join me?" Spike said half-heartedly, knowing full well the fish would probably decline. "Maybe next time then. Anyway, I think I'm going to head off. See you two later?" The fish splashed a little, then dove to the bottom of the pond. "Hey, don't think you can get away from me so easily!"
Spike splashed the pond-water a couple times, trying to get the fish to come back...to no avail. After a few moments of messing around with the fish, the dragon lifted his head from the pond in suspicion. The chirping of birds had deadened. After Applejack's lessons on Everfree survival, Spike knew that something was ahoof. Then, like a gust on the wind, a twig snapped in the distance. Nearly falling into the pond, the drake shot up faster than a wall-eyed butterfly. "Who's there? Twilight?" Spike asked the bushes, his heart now racing. "Greeves? This isn't funny, you know. Ever since that prank with the caramel onions last week, I've been a little...edgy."
With a gust of wind, a shadowy figure descended from a nearby tree with the speed of ten pegasi. Unfurling its wings, the beast appeared to have what looked like a stereo-system wrapped in its left fore-leg. From the force of its descent, Spike had been blown to the ground, losing his mental bearings and raising his arms in defense of the air-born assailant. "Stay back! I know Neigh-jujitsu! I'm warning you!"
After a series of coughs and hacks, a voice came from the monster. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, little guy," A embarrassed female voice said sorrily. "I didn't mean to throw you to the ground like that. Heh, I guess I sometimes forget my own strength. Here, let me help you up," Came the voice, extending a hoof to the downed drake.
Spike cleared the dust from his eyes, sizing up the pony who'd just knocked the wind out of him. A slender, orchid-purple coated, midnight-ice maned pegasus mare stood before him, a wry smile stretched across her lips. Putting her hoof in Spike's face, the light reflected off her golden-hued eyes as she tilted her head quizzically. "If you're just gonna stare at me, at least do it standing up, okay?" She said in an empowered, yet concerning tone.
"Staring! I'm n-not staring! Just amazed that somepony could knock a fella to the ground with such ease!" Spike exclaimed, now not only being on the physical defense, but the verbal as well. "I'm not going to brag, but a dragon like myself isn't easily knocked to his backside." The flustered dragon said, looking down at his knees as he brushed the last of the dirt off his scaly body.
"Easy, little man. I was just busting your scales. I think the only real crime committed here is how my ever-so-graceful landing knocked the tape out of my stereo system," And with those words, the mare lifted a dirty tape from the ground, blew on the backside of it twice, then popped it back into the music-player. A calming, yet energetic instrumental song began to stream through the air, pricking Spike's ears.
"Wow. I don't think I've ever heard a song as strange as this one, even at Fluttershy's Woodland Critters band practices." Spike said, scratching his forehead. "Who's it by, anyway?"
"The name of the song is 'A Hazy Shade of Random' by William Orbit , and it's defiantly one of my top five tracks. You're telling me you've never heard of him?"
Spike yielded no answer. "Sorry, I haven't. Honestly, I'm more of a classical type of guy, Frank Sinat-- hey, hey, hey wait just a second! How're we talking about our favorite types of music when I don't even know who you are? I don't even know your name! You'd think that after almost turning me into fish-food, you would at least spare me the dignity and tell me who you were, right?" The confused and slightly agitated dragon questioned, pointing an accusing claw at the mystery mare. "So...who are you ?"
The mare donned a sly smile. Grabbing her stereo with a foreleg, she took to the air and hovered just a few feet from Spike's face. "I'll tell you what, sunshine, I'd like to play a game." She smirked, watching Spike visibly gulp. "I'm going to go into the maze, and you're going to find me,"
"That's going to be impossible! The maze is huge! You can't just, expect me to find you !" Spike blurted, stomping a foot in the mud. "At least give me something to go on."
"Hmm...I suppose you have a point. Very well," The stranger said, rolling her eyes. "To make it easy on you, I'll keep my music on the whole time," She said drearily, presenting the stereo again. "Sound square?"
Spike scratched his chin for a moment. "I suppose..." He said in a strained tone. "But you can't do anything shady! Like dropping the radio on the ground, okay? And no flying!"
"Well, shoot. There goes that plan," The mare said, pushing part of her mane out from her left eye. "I guess you're just too smart for me!"
"You know it, sister." Spike said energetically, cocking an eyebrow. "Being the assistant to Equestria's most dignified student has its perks!"
The stranger laughed a long, drawn out laugh. "Psssh, we'll put that to the test then, ehh?" And with a flap, the pegasus zoomed into the greenery.
Spike stood at the entryway to the maze for a few moments, looking into the narrow passage with a sigh. "Well, this can't be any worse than a regular walk..." And with a tentative step, began his quest for the pegasus. Shooting a few glances at the hedges and bushes at his sides, Spike noticed a stark difference in the maze. For one, the bushes were beginning to turn a shade of honey yellow. This type of foliage change had never occurred on Spike's previous visits, but as long as a change in color scheme was the only difference in atmosphere, he cared little.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Spike shouted to the skies, plodding along the bends and curves of the Canterlot Gardens at a slightly less than break-neck speed. "I know you're here somewhere ..." He whispered. The stereo of Mystery had been chiming similar, yet different tunes at a medium volume teasing him with the promises of a short pursuit. Unfortunately, this was not the case. After ten minutes of senseless tracking, Spike figured he'd try a different approach. "Hey! Mystery!" He yelled. "What's the name of this song again!?"
A few moments of silence passed before an unmistakable shout came from across the maze. "It's not the same song, half-pint! This one's called 'The Story of Light' !" And was followed suit by a moment of silence.
In a moment of realization, Mystery shouted again. "Dammit!"
Spike laughed to himself for a moment before regaining his balance. "Wow, either she has the cockiness of Rainbow Dash, or I'm dreaming," He said in a satisfied tone, letting the air of the garden fill his nostrils. After a deep breath, he began again on his hunt for the mystery mare. Walking up and down inclines in the path, Spike took this as a moment to recall. For the past twenty five minutes, he'd been pursuing a total stranger. That much he knew. What he didn't know (And the bit that bothered him most) was why . He knew nothing about the stranger other than her ludicrous tastes in music, but he still felt...something. A pang of remembrance, almost as if she'd been a long-lost friend. Or maybe an aunt you'd see around the holidays. Whatever the case, Spike found himself compelled to uncover the concealed identity of his quarry...
Step by step, he got closer to the origin of the strange music and, ultimately, the mystery mare. He'd done a little more thinking as he neared the epicenter of Mystery's music, trying to match her face with a friend. From what he could see, she had the cockiness of Rainbow Dash, the bombastic-ness of Pinkie, the cultured nature of Fluttershy, the sarcasm of Applejack, and the looks of Rarity (Which he more than adored). The only pony she didn't have a piece of was Twilight. "Hmm...is that why I'm doing this to myself? Ruining a perfect afternoon with this wild goose-chase, simply because this...this, enigma reminds me of my friends? Wow, I sound like a class-A sap..." Spike said, chuckling to himself. "At least there's nopony around to hear..."
Not more than a moment later, the formally medium-volumed stereo that'd been playing songs by William Orbit jumped to max volume. "GAHH! Sweet Celestia, that's louder than Pinkie Pie's show-tunes!" Spike shrieked, covering both ears with his palms. "Please, make it stop! I beg you!" He shouted, teeth clenched and knuckles white. "Mystery!"
Then, like a wish upon a star, the music stopped. Spike slowly removed his hands from his ears and, with a dart of his eyes, realized he was standing his ground in the center of the maze. "What the...How did I?" The suddenly-tired dragon asked nopony in particular, looking from his claws to the large statue of Princess Luna that stood before him. "A statue of princess Luna? I don't think I remember there being anything other than some sunflowers and a bench here..." Spike uttered, continuing to stare questioningly at the marble carving of the Night Regent. The statue itself was of the princess, fully adorned in her custom, self-made Synergy robes. Spike had read that back in the early days, Luna was the head of the College of Synergetics, the only magical academy of the time period. From the details of the statue, Spike could guess that its carving must've taken place somewhere in the Starswirl era.
"Wow...I never knew how graceful the princess looked in robes. Well, better looking than Twilight anyway." The confused dragon said sarcastically to himself. Taking a quick look around, he noticed that the leaves along the shrubbery had all turned a crimson red. And another thing, the sun was quickly fading from existence. "Mother of Luna! How long have I been out here?!"
Following a brief chuckle, a familiar voice rang through the air. "Long enough to find me, if it means anything to you." Mystery said in a placid tone. Spike turned on his heel and raised a questioning talon, but was immediately shushed. "I honestly didn't expect you to go all the way to the center. That takes motivation."
After Mystery's hoof had been lowered, Spike's face, turned a bright shade of red. "Motivation!?" He shouted. "I think I blacked out after you turned your music up to eleven like that!" He ranted, taking steps towards the pegasus. "And all for what? To learn your name? I don't even care anymore!" He clamored, now looking up into the drunken smile of the face Mystery had been wearing. "What could you possibly be smiling about!"
Unable to contain herself any longer, Mystery fell to the ground in a fit of laughter. "It's j-just you're so cute when you get mad!" She spilled, rolling maniacally about the evening grass.
"Glad to hear it." Spike said indifferently. Turning his back to Mystery, he started taking steps towards the exit of the maze. "If that's all you have to say, I'm going back to the castle. It's been real!" Spike shouted, now walking slowly away. "Real weird... "
The laughing stopped as the mare made the sudden realization that the subject of her toying has turned his tail. "Hey!" She shouted, scrambling to her hooves. "Wait a second! Don't you know how this works? You're supposed to plead with me to learn my name!" Mystery accused, now hovering over Spike's head. "Hey! Short-Stop! I'm talking to you still!"
Spike raised a dismissive hand (Sue me) and waved the pursuer away. "This isn't scripted, you know." Mystery visibly scoffed. "And I'm getting pretty tired. Can we just wrap this up?"
"Wrap...This...Up?" The mare asked herself, looking down at the unamused Spike. "Fine. We'll have it your way, drake." She stated, a smile creeping up her lips. "But you'll have to live with the thought of never knowing who...or what I am."
Spike slowed his pace, but didn't completely stop. His mind raced as the mystery mare landed at his side, now in stride. She was right, Spike needed to learn her name. Whether it was magic or his own personal stubbornness, Spike sighed a deep sigh before coming to a halt. "Alright. Let's hear it."
Mystery nearly stumbled. "I beg your pardon?"
"Your name." The cynical Spike chimed. "You clearly seem so eager to spill the beans, so say it. I'm all ears ."
"Thou art either brave, stupid or innocent," The mare quipped, batting her golden eyes. "Perchance...a mix of all three?" She said, now walking back to the statue of Luna. "Oh, and on the off chance you were wondering, the name of this song is 'Aquarium' ."
Spike sighed deeply at the fact that music was still at the forefront of the mare's worries. "I...see." He said, now following in the footsteps of the midnight-shaded stranger. "So...Now that I've come all this way, will you finally tell me your name?" He asked perplexedly, trying to scratch an itch on his back.
Mystery flew towards the statue of the be-robed Luna, staring longingly into its marble eyes. With a sigh, she looked down towards Spike. Even from a distance, she knew he was feeling both a sense of loathing and curiosity. "I suppose the time's come then...has it not?" She questioned, noting the nod that Spike gave absentmindedly. "But, before I reveal to you my name, might I ask of you a simple question?"
The dragon bore his fangs. "By all means, please do." He said in a brooding tone of voice. "It's not like I've been asking you one simple question all night."
Mystery laughed. "True, true. But riddle me this," She queried, gliding to his side. "How exactly...did you get here?"
Spike shared a laugh himself, coughing briefly before pointing a claw at the pegasus. "You've got to be kidding me, right?" And was met with a simple nod no. "Alrighty then. Uhh...Well, I wanted to take a walk through the mazes, and then I met you ." He said, pointing. "Simple. So..." He stated, staring into the emerald green eyes of Mystery. "And that's it. Case closed."
She simply shook her head. "No, no, no, Spike. Think earlier . What were you doing before you decided on going into the maze?" She asked, now standing directly in front of the belittled Spike. "Think."
The drake only now realized that the mare was considerably taller than himself, but figured it was simply due to bad lighting. "I was in the royal library. Me and a friend, Greeves, were looking through some chronicles when I decided to take a break. Happy now?"
Mystery smirked. "Is that the earliest you can think? How did you get to the library?"
"I, I...I was...hmm..." Spike said questioningly, scratching the scales atop his head. "I could swear me and...was it Twilight?" He sputtered, doubting the very sentences that flew from his voice-box. Thinking long and hard, he could come to no logical conclusion to the most reasonable of questions; 'Where had he been?' And, with the wheels all turning, burning up his mind, he finally decided on an answer. "I honestly couldn't tell you."
Mystery kicked the stereo, fast forwarding to its next song. "Ahh, Hooverphonic...'This Strange Effect' . A fitting song, if I do say so myself." She said slyly. "Especially with you in your current...situation.
The mare circled Spike like a hawk to her prey, enjoying every last bit of his confusion. "So, Spike, as long as we're on the subject of the unknown, have those history books proved useful in your quest for answers about Daydream?" She asked, her coat beginning to change hues from a navy blue to a cosmic black. "It must be a pain, trying to get answers about Nocturn from second-hoof sources."
"Yeah, but the research is necessary if I want to uncover the truth. It's not like you can...just..." A brief moment of thought passes. "WAIT !" Spike snapped, his eyes going wide as he stared pensively at the stranger. "How in Equestria do you know my name?!"
The enigma Spike had been following for hours let out a hysterical laugh, reeling on her back legs. "And the last horse crosses the finish-line!" It said, overwhelmed with the long-awaited discovery. Wiping away a tear from laughter, she hovered over to the desolate dragon. "So to speak, anyway."
Spike's eyes twitched at the sight before him. The mystery mare's body had been changing throughout the course of the hunt, and now it was all coming together. The green eyes. The ever-eluding personality. The fact that nothing other than the night could share her sense of unknown. This was no mere stranger..."N-n-nightmare M-moon?" He accused, taking his first steps in the opposite direction of the shadowy form. Even though he was a few feet away, Spike could see a horn begin to manifest on the Night Empress's head. Her wingspan grew drastically, but wasn't as wide as his friends had depicted. The only other difference --However stark-- was the fact that her mane had remained tangent. A soft shade of ebony, its curls sat fiercely on her shoulders.
A dull fire blazed within the eyes of the specter, revealing her dark, yet incomplete form to the now shrunken dragon. "Please, dearie. Nightmare is such a harsh term. Call me... Nocturn."
To Be Continued...
...Right Now!
Spike's mind was burning out at the revelation. The evil that Luna feared most was upon him, and more-so, it was speaking to him in sarcasm . "N-n-n-nocturn!? B-but how! You-you-you--"
"Were defeated? Destroyed? Humiliated? Galloped my last race?" Nocturn shouted coldly. "Yes. I suppose I was considered all of the above for a time, but as you can see, I'm here. Alive. In-the-flesh." She said calmly, going off on a tangent. Noting how Spike appeared to be having a mini heart-attack, she closed the distance between he and herself.
"Gahh! Nightma--" Spike began, but was hushed by her left wing.
"Shhhh, shhh, shh. Rest yourself, Spike. Why don't you take a seat over by the statue," She said reassuringly, beckoning him to a wooden bench similar to the one at the entrance of the maze. "You need anything? Sapphires? Emeralds? Maybe some chocolate milk?"
"H-h-how is this possible? There's no way this could happen...never in a million years! The princesses would be on you in a matter of seconds!" Spike clamored, now being pushed into the park bench below the statue.
Nocturn winked. "I don't see hide nor hair of either princess," She chimed, fluttering to the side of Spike's bench. "So...what do you think this means? Feel free to use vulgarity if the need arises."
As Nocturn winked, Spike winced. How could the spirit of Nightmare Moon be here? At his side, offering him food and drink? Getting up slowly, he proceeded to turn and look Nocturn dead in the eyes, and with a burst of bravery/stupidity, spoke his mind. "I'm asleep, aren't I? I'm having a nightmare, that's all. This whole thing was brought on from lack of sleep, and now I'm punishing myself," He uttered in a thoughtful tone. Raising his right arm, he then proceeded to pinch himself. "And with that logic, this should wake me up in Twilight's house! Safe!"
The nightmare incarnate watched Spike's little lecture with a bemused smirk. Folding a hind leg over the other, she then proceeded to clap at his efforts. "And you thought of that all on the spot? I'm not going to lie, dear subject, I'm thoroughly impressed." She said with an amused sense of confidence. "Let's see just how far you'll go to wake yourself up."
Summoning all his strength, Spike pinched his left forearm with the hopes of escaping the nocturnal prison. Nothing.
Deciding that a mere pinch was insufficient, he collected his wits and blindly fell backwards. Again, nothing. Attempt after failed attempt, it became apparent that the self-harm was getting him nowhere fast. "No..."
"Yes." Nocturn chirped. "And from the way you're reacting, I can clearly see that you're not handling this as well as I'd imagined. I guess I hadn't added the fact that you're still a child into the equation," She mocked, raising a hoof to her chin. After a moment of ferocious pondering, Nocturn came to a conclusion. "Okay then, Spike. It seems that you need an ultimatum , of sorts. Here," She began, her horn flaring as two gems were summoned into existence. "Let's let you decide."
A pair of flawless diamonds glided into Spike's claws, one blood-red, the other cyan-blue. He clenched both gems tightly as he looked from them to Nocturn. "D-diamonds? But why?" He stuttered.
Nocturn sized the purple dragon up before proceeding. "Spike. In your right hand, you hold a red diamond. In your left, you hold a blue diamond," The satanic Alicorn said desolately. Spike, now realizing that a way out might finally be presented, looked intently at the gems. "If you choose to eat the red gem, you will prove to me that you are willing to hear me out, and stay. Here. With me." She said, speaking intensely. Noting how Spike hadn't immediately eaten the blue diamond, she continued. "On the other hoof, if you eat the blue diamond, I'll send you home to your tree-house. To Twilight Sparkle. To your beloved princesses. But, know this," Nocturn etched, bringing her muzzle to Spike's face. "You will never be treated with any more respect than you have now. You will live a placid life, evolving from Twilight's shelf-stacker to Celestia's encyclopedia. You will live out the rest of your days cold, alone, and unsatisfied. You'll never again be presented the chance to become something...more ." She concluded, brushing her short mane from her eyes as she backed away. "So...what do you choose?"
After weighing both gems in his hands, Spike came to the ultimate conclusion.
Eat the BLUE gem, and be sent back to normality?
Or...Eat the RED gem, risking both mind and body in the hopes of overcoming the existence you've always occupied?
(Heads Up; This is where you start taking the story into your own hands. Now go on...shape the world.)
(P.S. They're hyperlinks to the chapter of your choosing. Installed by me personally for your convenience.)
(Last note; Once you've made a decision, try to stick with it. Don't want to ruin any surprises, now do we?)
Red ?
Or...
Blue ?
Author's Note
Author's notes, ehh? This is certainly new.
Seeing Blue: Dreams Once Lived
The 'Time' had come.
The satanic alicorn stood stoically as Spike weighed the diamonds in his claws, narrowing her eyelids as he stared fiercely down at the ground. Looking from left to right, she knew he had made his choice.
Eying the red gem with disgust, Spike looked passionately at the frail cerulean-colored diamond in his left claws. Hoisting it to his mouth, he ate the entirety of the gem fiercely, rebellion burning in his eyes. Then, the defiant drake shoved the crimson rock directly into the chest of Nocturn. "Sorry, demon. I'm not so big on deals with the devil. Maybe I AM treated like a second-tier dragon, but at least I can live with myself. The last thing I need on my conscious is 'Listened to Nightmare Moon'. I mean look at yourself!" Spike shouted, no longer afraid of the nightmarish being before him. "You've become a testament to your own sins, and deserve your place in this world!" The young dragon roared, now starting to dissipate. "I suppose the only thing I can say now is...I'm sorry. May Tartarus have mercy on your soul."
"I see. Know this though, dear Spike. I will find another. Maybe, the next pony in line will be more open to ideas of peace, prosperity...and harmony." Nocturn uttered coldly.
"The only thing you want from this world is the power to fuel your unending desire for evil! You don't want harmony...You're revolted at the mere thought of it!" Spike bellowed, a fire burning in his chest. "I know for a fact that nopony will ever succumb to your ideals, no matter how you word them!" The fearless dragon finished. He started taking steps in the opposite direction of Nocturn, a smile on his face. "Goodbye, demon. May you never have a moment's rest."
The drake's physical form began to shimmer in the moonlight, a dizzying sensation overcoming him as the world began to spin. The last thing Spike glimpsed before falling into unconsciousness was the night regent, frowning sorrowfully to herself as he slipped away.
The wicked laughter of a nightmare now defeated echoed throughout Spike's head as he began to began to stir, realizing he'd fallen out of bed. Raising a claw to his forehead, the memories of the the previous night came flying back to him. "Sweet Celestia! I'm alive! I'm alive !" He cheered, scrambling out of bed and down the stairs. "Twilight! Guess what! I'm alive!" He shouted to the ceiling, now sprinting to the kitchen where he presumed his would-be mother would be, safe and sound. "Twilight!" He yelped, noticing the shadow of a pony in the hallway. "I'm so happy to see you! You won't believe the nightmare--"
He stopped. Upon entering the kitchen, a black shadow crept from the wall to the center of the room. Spike fell to his knees as panic overtook his frail body. "T-t-twilight?"
"I'll be honest, Spike. I expected better from you. Unfortunately, nopony escapes Nightmare. And by nopony, I of course, mean you ." The hauntingly familiar form of Nocturn said disappointingly. Shaking her head, the dark horse of the apocalypse's horn flared a bright, crimson purple. "I'm sorry, young dragon. I truly am." She murmured compassionately. "But I can't have you spoil all the fun. I'm sure you'll make fast friends with the ponies of Abstracticum ." A look of horror overcame the drake. "Even if it's only temporary. Goodbye, Spike."
Spike barely had time to scream before every fear imaginable came forth from the walls, the floors, and the ceiling. The sum of all fears enveloped Spike in an endless black cocoon, spiraling both in and out with lies, deception, and secrecy.
Nocturn trotted from the living room to the kitchen-window. Noting the ponies at play, she sighed deeply before turning back to the library's foyer. With a hair of magic, the mare opened the nearest book that had been sitting atop a desk. Flipping to the nearest bookmarked page, her frown turned into an interested smile. "The Sum of All Fears; By Twilight Sparkle . Hmm...Now this is a book I can get around." She spoke aloud, levitating the book to her side. Looking to the nearest couch, the night regent sat herself down and began reading. "Let's see just how much the Equestrians really know..."
Raindrops echoed throughout the night, pattering softly as the scent of lightning stung the nostrils of two young Equestrians. This was it.
"Spike, I need you to look at me. I need you to look me in the eyes, and tell me everything's alright, o-okay?"
Spike was on the verger of breaking down, his eyes beginning to water. "E-everything's gonna be alright, T-twilight. I swear, it'll never happen--"
A hoof stopped him mid-sentence. "Shhh, shhhhh. Please, Spike. W-we don't need to talk about it anymore. As long as we keep this between us, nothing bad will ever happen to you, okay?"
He nodded once.
"Thank you." The purple unicorn whispered, now on the verge of tears. "I'll always love you, no matter what happens," Twilight continued, looking deep into Spike's eyes. "Do you remember the time Owlowiscious and I saved you from that dragon?"
Spike again nodded.
"W-what exactly did I say again?"
"You...You called me your number one assistant." He said with a smile.
Twilight closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheek. "I...I think I made a mistake." She said, coughing fiercely. "You're the best friend a pony could've ever asked for..."
Spike began to choke on his words. "No, Twilight! You can't leave me like this! There's so much more in life to enjoy! You can't just... GO!"
Twilight Sparkle, with all her energy, grabbed Spike by the shoulders, bringing him to her face. "I've had a full life...Heh, who else do you has saved the world...Four times, no less. But," She managed to say weakly, now on her last breaths. "That's not the point Spike. The point is...I love you. I love you, so, so very much," Another fit of coughs interrupted the fast-fading mare. Kissing him on the cheek, her eyes began closing. She knew this was her final act. "And I'll always be looking down on you...Goodbye, Spike. I...l-love.....you......" And with a smile, Twilight's head fell limp in the dragon's arms.
"T-t-twilight?" He whispered, shaking her at the shoulders. "Twilight? A-a-are you there? Twilight, listen to me! Please! Twilight !" Spike shouted, thunder clapping directly about him as the rain of a lifetime beat down upon his quivering form. Looking from his claws to his mother, a terrible longing pieced his cold-blooded heart as he watched the flower that was Twilight Sparkle's life wilt before his eyes. "TWIIIIIILLLLLLIIIIIIIGHT!"
Spike lay nearly unconscious, curled up in a ball with his eyes closed. A single tear rolled down his scaly cheek. With a whimper, he let out a low moan. "Twiiilllliiight...Please.....Come back... "
About twenty feet away, a feminine voice was heard. "Hey, Caesar! Look! I think the dragon just said something!" She said excitedly.
Not more than a moment later, another voice was heard. "Get your head on straight, numbskull. Most of things the Mistress throws down here already had a nail in their coffin." The raspy, male voice grunted. After a series of coughs, he continued. "Besides. The last thing we need to do is leave our post....Even for a mortal. After all, we are on the Overseer's shortlist. Just a few more months of Mind Heist and we're outta here! You don't want to ruin our chance at promotion, right Cass?"
"Never honey! But I could swear he said something...something heart-wrenched." The first voice said woefully.
The second voice laughed between a fit of chest-wrenching coughs. "Sure he did, Miss. 'Feelings for Everypony'. Just like that earth pony that came through a week ago. What was her name again? Chocolate Daiquiri?" He asked himself. "Bah. It doesn't matter now. Besides, I think it's just about break time, and I'm starving. Finish your load and let's go."
The female sighed deeply. "I don't know, Caesar. I could swear he was calling somepony's name. But, if you're so certain..." And was followed by a series of loud snaps and cracks. After a few minutes of crackling, a lever switched and was immediately followed by the loud whines of machinery.
The intense sounds of grinding gears and bursting steam were last straws needed to wake Spike from his slumber. With immense effort, Spike let out a low-toned cry. "Twiiiiillliiight....."
The grinding of gears halted. "Caesar! I know you heard it this time! I knew he was alive!" The female shouted.
"C'mon, Cassy. You're kidding me...right? If we're seen anywhere near the teleportation fields, the Overseer will demote us again!" But stopped the same time a clammor of metal fell to the ground. "Cass! Wait! Stop !"
Spike heard the sound of gallops as he lay still, eyes closed. As the sound of hoofsteps grew near, he tried to make some more noise. "Twiiiiillllight...pllleassse..."
The voice, now feet from the fallen drake, cooed him genially. "Don't worry little fella, auntie Cassy is going to get you outta here..." But was followed suit by the sound of a second set of hooves sliding into the ground.
"Cass! What're you doing ! Leave that thing alone!" Came the raspy male, breathing heavily at the physical exertion.. "If we're caught talking with the stricken, we'll be hung!" He exclaimed quietly. "Please! For the both of us, let. Him. Be."
"Let him BE ?! But Caesar! If we leave him alone, he'll die for sure!" The mare hissed back. "You always go on about how life is a thing worth protecting. Wouldn't you agree that the life of this dragon applies to that same protection?" She said hotly. "Please, Caesar. We have to help this dragon. And quite frankly, our moral compasses need a little aligning."
"But Cass! One does not simply, 'Help the branded.' Where on Abstracticum would we put him? How would we feed him? Keep him alive ?" The male spat.
"We could scavenge gems from the rift! Dragons do eat gems, right? It's been so long...I can't even remember the last time I spoke with a dragon..."
The male coughed harshly twice. "Okay, so let's say we do take this dragon in. How would we keep him hidden from the Overseer? We can't just leave him in our bunker alone! We've got to think this through!"
"I think I know a spell." She said hoarsely, coughing once. "If anything, he could tell us how the mistress is fairing. You know, give us a little insight on Daydream?"
A clapping sound was heard from the area of the male. From the noise, it was likely a face-hoof. "I can't believe I'm considering going through with this. If either of us are connected to this dragon, we're dead. You do know this, right?"
"It's worth a try!"
The male sighed deeply. "You're lucky I love you."
Spike could feel the warmth radiating off the pair of ponies huddled over him. With the last of his strength, he managed to whisper. "Please...Help...Nocturn...Ponyville......Need to...Save..." And began to fade. The last words he heard were from the female.
"I don't care what it takes, young dragon, but I'm going to help you. whatever it takes, I'll make sure you wake up again," She said soothingly, stroking the spikes atop his head. "Please, rest," She said sweetly, coughing slightly before stroking his scales. "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head...Hush now quiet now, it's time to go to bed..."
Rest Your Eyes...
The 'Time' had come.
Nocturn stood silently on the crest of the hill, watching patiently as Spike weighed the stones evenly. She narrowed her eyes as the drake began to glare immensely at the diamond in his left claws.
After an immense session of thought, Spike went against everything he had ever learned. Summoning all his courage, he pushed all thoughts of home, Twilight, the princesses, and everything else from his mind. As he hoisted the cyan diamond to his left eye, he marveled at the slight glisten the moon had given it and chuckled, realizing only now how eerily familiar the diamond was to Rarity's cutie mark.
Then, without a second glance, he dropped the stone from his hand and with a wince, proceeded to eat the blood-red stone. Placing the gem on his tongue, he bit into the bitter tasting rock apprehensively. And after a solid thirty second struggle, he inhaled deeply as he wiped the red shards from his claws. "What...What have I done? " He whispered quietly to himself. After a moment of reflection, he looked from the ground to what he correlated with the devil. "I can't believe I just did that..."
Nocturn watched quietly from a distance as Spike played along perfectly. Like a puppeteer to their instrument, she could only scrutinize as Spike considered, accepted, and ultimately completed her challenge. "Very well done, my subject. You've chosen most wisely." She stated, taking proud steps towards the young dragon. "And now that I can clearly see that you're willing to hear me out, let's go some place a little more...comfortable."
Spike took steps towards the regent of the night, furrowing his eyebrows as he got closer. "Now you just wait! You said that if I ate the gem, the only thing you'd do is talk to me! This isn't what I gave up my only chance of freedom for!" He shouted.
"I can see you're still firmly attached to the thought that I 'Want to control you', and aren't giving up. Please, Spike. Trust me on this one," Nocturn said warmly, wrapping a wing around the flustered dragon. "I only want to help."
Spike's face retained its grim overtone. "Yeah, help yourself maybe. What can make me believe that you're not trying to take advantage of me? To be fair, you ARE a force of pure evil after all." He said smugly.
Nocturn's face grew cold for half a second, but quickly returned to its all-knowing look of kindness. "If you'd let me, I'll kindly show you just how compassionate I really am," She said generously, smirking as she eyed Spike up and down. The empress of the night extended a hoof to her companion, her horn beginning to glow a beautiful shade of purple. "Come with me, Spike. Let me show you the world."
Spike looked longingly from his feet to the mare, his mind wracked with emotions. Nocturn merely stood, hoof still extended, awaiting his response. Eventually, he concluded that nothing could be worse than the situation he was in now. "Okay, Nocturn. I'll trust you." He said, extending his arm and taking hold of the orchid hoof that lay before him. "But only for a while. I still can't get over the fact that I'm dreaming..."
With a laugh, the shade extended her wings. "Ah, yes...dreaming." She uttered shrewdly. "I remember when I used to dream..." Nocturn said, laying a hoof over her heart. A moment later, she looked down at Spike with an intense stare. "But enough about me...Tonight is about you ."
"Yeah..about that." Spike squawked, looking suspiciously at the regent. "When exactly am I going to wake up from tonight ?"
Nocturn scoffed lightly before laying a hoof on Spike's purple shoulder. "When you're good and ready." She spoke, patting him thoughtfully. "Now...let's fly."
With a whirl, Spike was thrown onto the back of the alicorn as she took to the skies about Canterlot. At speeds equal to Rainbow Dash, Spike's face was a mixture of horror and ecstasy. "Wow! I've never flown on the back of a pony before! It's so...Freeing. It's as if the entire world's within the palm of my hand!" He said gleaming. Looking down at the torch-lit houses of upper Canterlot, Spike the flightless dragon experienced true freedom for the first time in his life. "It's just like Rainbow Dash always said it was..." Were the only words capable of describing the situation. "Nocturn...Can we maybe land on the Canterlot Castle's roof? In all my years, never had I been able to get up there and, well, I'd really like to check it out."
Nocturn nodded once and smiled to herself before turning at a counter-clockwise angle. Dipping to her left she eased her speed as the two dreamers approached Canterlot Castle's peak. Then, landing a tad more gracefully than when she had dropped on Spike, she allowed him to dismount and bucked her radio into playing 'Clubbed to Death' . The night regent breathed deeply, the winds in her mane finally dissipating as she trotted to the railings atop the sky-scraper sized super castle. "It's quite the amazing sight, is it not? All of Equestria...right before your very eyes. It's not often a pony gets to view things as a god would." She stated. Noticing Spike's face had become a tangled mess of joy, she hovered to his side like a fallen angel. "Enjoy it, Spike, for this is only the beginning." She whispered quietly.
Spike stared at the world below him, seeing as far as Ponyville from the height. "It's astounding. Never had I dreamed of a view like this...Nocturn, are you able to see things like this?" He asked, awe dripping from his lips. "Like, outside the dream world?"
Nocturn closed her eyes, shaking her head slowly. "I'm afraid not, dear child. In my current state, I can only view the graces of our lands through dreams." She said somberly. As the two stood silent for a moment, Nocturn decided to change the subject. While the heights about the clouds was nothing new to her personally, to Spike it was as if they were on another planet. "Tell me Spike. What would you think if I said you could view the world like this every day ?"
Spike, as hard is it was, looked away from the view and towards Nocturn. He was at a loss for words. "What do you mean, 'Every day'?" He asked.
Nocturn chuckled slightly at the question. "I expected you would not understand. Tell me boy, do you remember do you remember the time you ran away from your beloved mother?" She asked understandingly. Spike nodded once, so she continued. "You had a run-in with an elder dragon, did you not?"
"Yes, yes. I did." Spike said loosely. "What are you getting at?"
Nocturn turned her attention to the stars, staring at the moon with a look of utmost sincerity. "Those dragons, spike. They can do anything . Tartarus, they can do more than I ever could." She spoke wistfully, a lavender tear beginning to form in the night regent's right eye. "It's been my life goal to be able to spin realities of my own, allowing every pony in Equestria to live life like they'd want it to be. Unfortunately...this can never happen..."
A few moments pass. Nocturn stood still, staring out into the void. Spike, on the other hoof, was sitting. He brought a tentative claw to his chin before getting to his feet. "N-nocturn?" He asked timidly. "Is that why you were banished? For wanting to change our way of life?"
The alicorn, wrapping a wing around her diligent listener, spoke softly. "Tis' true. The hearts and minds of pony-kind weren't ready for the reality I could create for them. Fearing my ambition, Celestia banished Luna and I to the moon in hopes that I would let my thoughts of change die." She said, now beginning to smile. "I almost wanted to believe that there was no hope for change...But no longer. You alone have shown me that together, even through a millennium of brain-washing, a few open minds can see that life would be so much more than it is now," She paused, collecting her thoughts. "But only if they listen to reason."
Spike sat breathlessly as Nocturn laid a hoof on his shoulder, now in tears. Resting a claw of his own on her chest, he smiled generously at the mare. "How could we have ever been so wrong about you? You've always been depicted as a monster, only out for yourself...It's a shame that others won't hear you out like this!" He said enthusiastically, finally warming up to the idea that Nocturn was never really a villain...just misunderstood. "As long as you want only to bring peace to the world, I'd be more than willing to lend a talon." He chirped. "That is what you want to do...right?"
"It's the only that's ever made me happy," She said, sniffing twice before wrapping Spike in a hug. "Thank you for listening, my child. I've never felt so close to being alive." She said smoothly, releasing her captive from the hug. "Now, Spike, since I've gained your trust," Nocturn said in a rustic tone, nodding for Spike to take a seat on one of the nearby benches. "If you're going to be aiding me personally, I'm going to need your complete commitment on this one." She said hopefully. "And, if you're going to be my personal protege, you'll need to look the part too." Nocturn said, smirking.
Then, in a glorious burst flash of magic, an spectral set of Spike-shaped armor appeared from nothing. The young dragon looked with absolute astonishment at the plating, marveling at even the smallest details. From the midnight-purple cape to the topaz crusting, everything about the armor shouted 'Authority'. "Wow! Is that armor for me?!?" Spike shouted amazingly, now running to Nocturn's side. "Where did you get this?" He asked, examining the finer points of the armor. The metal (Which Spike had recognized as runite) had an unnatural feel of power ebbing from it.
Nocturn could only smile at the dragon's ignorance. "Actually, I've forged it myself. My time spent on the moon was...well, let's just say I didn't get bored."
The armor floated gracefully into Spike's arms, resting in his claws. "This is amazing, Nocturn! It really is!" Spike said blithely, his face aglow with thrill. But, after a moment of thought, looked from the armor to the night regent suspiciously. "Nocturn, as awesome as this is, I need to ask you a question."
The night-mare looked pensively into Spike's eyes. "Whatever is the problem, child? Do you not enjoy our gift?" She asked considerately, now frowning. "Don't tell me you're thinking about declining."
"NO! I-I, uhmm, I, EHH hmm," Spike stuttered, clearing his throat. "I was just wondering...Why need magical armor if we're going to be helping Equestria?" The small dragon asked innocently. Looking up at the regent, he noticed a pang of thought run through her eyes. "Wouldn't we be sending the wrong message?"
Nocturn sighed. "I should've expected this type of reaction..." She said mournfully, examining the puzzled face of the dragon before her. "If anything, let me say this; The ponies of Equestria aren't used to change. A few of them might go as far as lashing out at you for trying to alter their lifestyle, even if it is for the better. I, myself, am a living example of just how deep the roots of ignorance stretch." She exclaimed hoarsely, holding a hoof to her chest. "But in the end, everypony will be glad we came. Together, we can forge the future Equestria has always deserved." Nocturn told, kneeling down and resting a hoof at his shoulder. "With this armor, you'll represent structure and order, the pillars of new life. Together, we can bring peace to the lands...once and for all."
Spike stood still, eying the night mare quizzically. Eventually, he lifted a solitary claw and poked her in the stomach. "Do you always speak like you're a philosophy teacher?" And chuckled to himself.
"Only to those I care for." She replied, throwing in a laugh of her own. "Now Spike, I need you to listen to me. I'm going to wake you up, okay?"
"Already? But...the view. The serenity...The company ." Spike said hesitantly, looking longingly into the eyes of the night regent. "Aren't we going to help the citizens of Equestria? How will we be able to--" Spike began to complain, but was quickly silenced by a purple hoof.
"Shhh, my protege. You need your rest, and I need time to think of a plan. We can't just...come back, right? If you'll aid me, the next few days are going to be very...difficult." Nocturn said dreamily, a hints of sympathy in her voice. "So, in the meantime, I need you to do me a favor."
Spike's eyes furrowed at the statement. "A f-favor? L-like what?" He gulped.
Nocturn began pacing back and forth across the marble balcony, a hoof placed firmly on her chin. "I need you to dig up any information your mother's--"
"She's not my mom!" Spike interjected.
The regent shot a sly grin. "Your 'best friend' has dug up on me. Even if I don't get out as often as I used to, I know when I'm the topic of a conversation. Simply put, I want to hear what she and the other ponies have been saying lately. Do you think you can do that, Spike?"
With a series of nods, the eager young dragon smiled as Nocturn's horn began to glow. "For sure! I can pull off a job like that like there's nothing to it!" He beamed. Not more than half a second later, his smile turned into a look of dread. "Uhh, Nocturn? Won't Twilight be a little, oh I don't know, suspicious that I'm wearing armor?"
"Fear not, my boy. The armor is only visible when you need it to be." Nocturn riddled back.
Spike could only scratch his head at the remark. "When I need it to be? I'm sorry, but I think you lost me there." He stated bluntly.
Nocturn sighed. "Okay, let me try this another way...The armor is lined with Moonstone fragments. You might be thinking, 'But Nocturn, how is that important'?" She exclaimed. Spike merely nodded. "Well, allow me to explain. Moonstone is the only thing that is directly linked to my magic. As long as I'm around, I can aid you through the armor, ergo making it 'invisible' to those unworthy of seeing its magnificence. Understand now?"
"I...I think so." Spike responded, still scratching behind his head.
"Most excellent..." Nocturn replied simply. "Remember, I won't be able to communicate with you in your dreams unless you personally allow me." She said in a placid tone, waving a hoof in the direction of a recently conjured portal. "Now go. I'll be eagerly awaiting your next nocturnal report, my student." The regent finished. With a flick of her magic, a rounded dining table and eight chairs appeared from nothing. A moment later, Nocturn teleported to the head of the table along with some papers, some quills, and of course, her radio. "Well, what are you waiting for? Seize the day!"
With a wave, Spike began running towards the portal. Looking back one last time, he noticed the empress of the night summon a thin leather-bound book, strangely resembling that of a diary. Taking mental note of her interest in books, Spike blinked thoughtfully before turning his back. "G'bye, Nocturn! I'll do my best!" And with that, he was gone.
'Wake Up'
"Spiiiike....Spiiiike...You there, buddy? It's time to wake up!" Came an angelic voice, whispering softly as if not to startle. "Spiiiike, please, wake up. You've done enough reading for today..."
With the combination of words, soft playing music , and pushing gestures, Spike the dragon peeled back his eyelids for the first time in what felt like months. "Who...wha--? What happened?" He questioned, craning his neck from the book he'd apparently fallen asleep atop. "Where am I? Nocturn, are you there?" A giggle was heard from his behind, causing the still mind-wracked dragon to spin a whole 180 degrees in his chair. Unfortunately for the chair, its back-support prevented Spike from turning around completely and sent him flying off into yet another mountain of books.
"Oh Spike, you've been up all night, haven't you? Oh you poor thing, putting yourself through so much just to help the princess. You must be exhausted!" Said Twilight Sparkle in her most appreciative tone of voice. Brushing the pink streak in her mane from her left eye, she knelt down beside her fallen companion. "You deserve a break. How's that sound, number-one assistant?"
As Twilight talked up a storm, Spike was still chasing the imaginary birds from his mind. Had this all just really been a dream? It couldn't have...He'd never dreamed so vividly before, but who's to say he hadn't just gotten too involved in a book before passing out? In all of Twilight's ramblings, the only thing he picked up was the term break . "Yeah, no problem Twi," He grumbled, cracking the bones in his spine before getting to his feet. "And a break sounds heavenly right now. And, uhh, by the way..." He said questioningly, raising a claw to his chin. "You haven't seen any me-shaped armor lying around, have you?"
Twilight's face was a mixture between laughter and confusion. "I can't say I have. But don't worry, my little knight," She said, now wrapping Spike in a hug. "I'll let you know if it turns up. Leave the rest of today's research to me, you definitely need to take a breather." And henceforth released the hug. Getting to her hooves, she telekinetically levitated the book Spike had been sleeping upon back to the desk and took a seat. "Now, go on. You said something yesterday about wanting to take a walk through the Canterlot Gardens, right?" Twilight said, now squinting out the stained glass window behind them. "From what I can tell, I'd say it's only..."
"Half-past six..." Spike stated coldly, not even needing to look up.
"...I'd have to agree with you! And, might I add--" Twilight was interrupted by a friendly interjection on Spike's end.
"Perfectly weathered for an evening stroll?"
Twilight could only gawk. Scratching her head, the mare gave out a light laugh as her words were taken straight from her mouth. "I'll be honest, Spike. That's quite an interesting skill you've got there. Just make sure not to get in trouble with it on your walk, okay? I'm sure I've been around the block enough times to know when magic's in the air, so be careful. Celestia and I are getting close to uncovering the reason behind the recent rise in mystic nocturnal energies, and we're positive that we're on the brink of something big." Twilight said excitedly. But, a moment later, her half-hearted smile turned to a frown as she clapped her forehooves together. "Earth to Spike, you still listening to me?"
Spike's spine shuddered at the realization that he'd gone through an eerily similar conversation...yesterday? He knew yesterday wasn't the term, but could think of no better way to convey the thought. turning his head at the sound of hooves clapping, he stood straight and looked Twilight in the eyes. "Y-yeah! Just daydreaming, is all. I think I'm still a little out of it from that long night of studying, y'know?"
"I suppose that's to be expected from a baby like yourself," Twilight said in a motherly tone, taking steps to pinch the cheeks of the drowsy Spike. "I love you, you know. Be careful out there..."
Spike grimaced at the thought of getting his cheeks pinched and moved towards the exit. "Don't worry, Twi. I think I know what I'm doing." He said reassuringly.
"If you insist, young drake. I'll see you back here in an hour?" Twilight asked sincerely.
Spike shrugged. "Sounds fine with me. Catcha' later, Twilight." And with that, he swung open the huge wooden doors that were the exit to the Canterlot Library.
Celestia's sun hung low on the Western horizon as Spike traversed the bends and winds oh the Canterlot Gardens for --what felt like-- the second time that day. The crisp air of night tangled and meshed with the warm, electrically charged air of day and created the perfect weather for his hike. Everything seemed so similar...while at the same time not. Whether or not Spike wanted to accept it, he knew he'd done this before. The same hedges, shrubs, bushes, trees, and everything else that could be considered a landmark was exactly the same as it was in his dream. With scrupulous steps, the dragon proceeded towards the maze's outdoor foyer.
As he neared the maze, a mixture of emotions was stirring inside the young Spike's head; Was it all really a dream? Was he psychic? Could he possibly still be dreaming, entrapped in yet another of Nocturn's spells? None of these he knew the answer to. Directionless, Spike figured that the place to start looking for answers would likely be the center of the maze.
Now not more than twenty yards away from the maze, Spike figured that the pond with the yin and yang fish were just around the corner. Poking his head through some shrubbery, he noticed that he was, in fact, correct about the fish. But...there was a surprise.
A single mare sat calmly, her head slung low as she skipped stones telekinectically across the pond. Wearing a stone-gray hoodie, she paid no heed to the rustle that Spike had been making a mere ten feet away, continuing absentmindedly with her stone-skipping.
The purple dragon trotted out of the bushes with little effort, but kept his distance from the stranger. For all he knew, it could've been some low-life with nothing to do other than sit around.
Then again, so was he.
Spike took steps in the direction of the stranger quietly, not wanting to disturb her thought process and before long, he was at her side. Spike gulped visibly at the mare, taking note of her physical appearance. With a brilliant mint-green coat, a mane of similar colors, and a pair of sunset-golden eyes, she sat focused on the water before her. Stone after stone, she never bothered to turn her attention from the water and acted almost as if Spike hadn't existed. Then, for the first time in hours, he sat down and relaxed to the rhythmic sound of rock-on-water. The hypnotic repetition turned minutes into years, rendering Spike powerless against the sounds of nature. Stone after stone, he enjoyed her silent company and blanked his mind.
It wasn't until twenty minutes later that something noteworthy finally happened. The mare, now without any stones left in the immediate vicinity, telekinectically latched onto the nearest physical object not attached to the ground; Spike.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy, sister! I'm no stooooOOONE!" Spike shouted, but to no avail. The young dragon was hurled through the air with little effort on the mare's end.
Snapping back to attention at the last possible second, the stranger's face contorted as Spike flew through the air...at her hooves. Leaping to her feet, she concentrated all of her magic on the flying ball of dragon and caught him mid-flight just before he made impact with the chilled water below. "Gotcha!" She shouted breathlessly. Spike was dangling inches from the pond, but otherwise was completely dry.
Spike remained silent and stunned as he was levitated back to the grass. Landing with a thump, he sat dazed and confused on the crisp soil beneath his scales and looked up at the hooded stranger with bemused curiosity. "Nice to meet you too! My name's Spike. I don't suppose you've got a name, ehh?" He asked in a lighthearted tone. Suspecting that this conversation would follow suit with the first one he'd had with Nocturn, he prepared himself for a chase.
The stranger sighed, blowing her minty mane from her eyes as she brandished her lyre. "The name's Heartstrings. Lyra, Heartstrings. And, first and foremost, I'd like to apologize for nearly drowning you just now." She said apologetically, a feint smile creeping its way across her aquamarine face.
Needless to say, Spike was surprised at Lyra's straight-forwardness. "Well...that's certainly a nice name. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Heartstrings." He said calmly, extending his claws to her right forehoof. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Lyra blushed slightly at the offer, then shook with the small dragon that stood before her. "Now that that's out of the way, do you mind if I ask just why you crept up on me like that? I mean, you could've mentioned your name sometime sooner you know." She said with a chuckle. "It might've prevented things from getting...wet." (Cool it, home-fry. Get your mind out of the gutter.)
"Yeah, that could've been quite the accident if you hadn't caught me when you did. Hey, Lyra," Spike asked, now starting to remember her name from somewhere. "You wouldn't happen to live in Ponyville, would you?"
Lyra smiled, looking to the pond. "Yes, I do. Actually, I live not more than a stone's throw --or a dragon's throw--, from the library. Bonbon and I live together in the two-story you have to pass on the way to Sugarcube Corner. Small world, us meeting here and all, ehh?"
Spike mentally slapped himself for not remembering her face from down the street, taking note to visit his own neighbor more often. "Yeah...small. But, I digress. I think that there's something I need to do in the maze. I, uhh, well..." Spike began, fumbling with his words. "Well, let me put it this way; I need some answers." He stated bluntly, noting how Lyra's face scrunched at the words answers . "And...uhh, well...I think the only way I'll manage to get them is at the center of the maze. You understand, right?"
The lyrist dug a mint hoof into the dirt before looking down at Spike with a wink. "I may look like a simple musician on the outside, young dragon, but I've been through many a magical trial in my life. I'm sure that whatever you're looking for, I can help. Besides," She said nonchalantly, looking from Spike to the pond. "It'd be way more fun than skipping stones." And turned her head back to her new-found friend and spoke dreamily. "So...what do you say?"
"I dunno...I think that this is the type of challenge only I should have to go through. Besides, I'm sure that you have lots of other things to do! Being a musician and all, I'm sure there's dozens of fans lined up just to get your autograph!"
"Your kindness knows no bounds, but alas, you're mistaken. After an extended...vacation, the few fans I had among town moved onto more modern musicians. That new techno-electro, rat-a-tat wub step disk jockey Vinyl Scratch," Lyra said with a hint of venom, but quickly corrected herself. "Not that she's a bad pony or anything. I personally was never really a fan of that genre." She finished, taking a quick look from her lyre, then back to Spike. "Not to sound creepy, but I honestly have nothing better to do right now."
Spike raised his left claw to his chin as he thought hard. Maybe Lyra would prove useful in the quest for answers? Either way, she made good company and he figured he would need all the help he could get for the coming days. Sighing a deep sigh, Spike beckoned for the mint-coated lyrist to tag along. "Okay, Lyra, I suppose if there's nothing else you'd rather do..."
Lyra squealed with joy for half a second before correcting herself, tugging at her sweater strings. "Fantastic! Anything to break up the monotony, y'know?" She said in an energetic tone, sharing glances at the ground and the dragon. "So, Spike. We're headed into the maze? That's pretty neat. I don't think I've ever been to the center, but from what I hear, it's like you're living a dream."
The drake couldn't help but wince at the term dream . For Lyra's sake and his own, he hoped he knew what he was getting himself into.
See Just How Far Your Trust Will Go...
Spike the defeated dragon breathed heavily atop what he now recognized as a bunk-bed, the feint sounds of soft playing music buzzing throughout his head. Still unable to open his eyes, he remembered the voices from earlier and raised his left arm. "H-hello? Is anypony there?" He said weakly, coughing twice afterwards. "Hello?"
A moment after his attempt at recognition, the sound of plates could be heard clattering. "Hey Caesar! I think he's waking up!" The female jolted.
"It's about damn time. After a night of sleeping in our cot, he'd better be alive." The raspy male said semi-seriously, folding what Spike presumed to be a newspaper.
"Oh stop it, Caesar! I'm sure the last thing our guest needs is to feel unwelcome," The female said soothingly, trotting to Spike's side. She brushed his scales gently and shook him like a wee lil' foal. "It's okay little guy, you're safe now. I think you were having a nightmare yesterday, but it's alright now. Whatever Nocturn did to you, I'm sure it was for a good reason. The mistress never does anything without taking the repercussions into the equation,"
The male scoffed. "I agree. You must've been sent here for doing something she hadn't expected. The only thing Nocturn hates more than a plan not falling together is a ripple...and you must've been one heck of a ripple to warrant being sent to Abstracticum."
Rubbing his eyes, Spike finally managed to sit up in what he considered (At the time) the comfiest bed in Equestria. However, just as he was going to open his eyes, he could feel a magical tug keeping them closed. "Hey, what's going on? What's happening to me?" He said drearily, still a little drowsy from yesterdays incident. "Why can't I open my eyes?"
The female sucked through her teeth briskly. "Well, before you open your eyes, I'm going to warn you. We ponies of Abstracticum aren't what you're typically used to..."
"What do you mean 'what I'm used to'? Y-you aren't z-zombies, r-right?" Spike asked questioningly.
The male chuckled lightly. "Seems your imagination is up to speed, ehh? But fortunately for us, no. We aren't zombie ponies. Just a little...different , is all." He said nonchalantly. "I'm sure you won't mind."
Spike's mind was put at ease through the confirmation that his rescuers were in fact not zombies, but was still wracked with possibilities. "Alright, I suppose I can trust you. After all, I'm still alive thanks to you guys." He stated gloomily.
"I wouldn't go that far..." The male whispered to himself. "But anyway, who are we to keep your eyes closed? Go on, Cass. Let him go."
"Alright, I'm letting go of your eyelids now. Just try to stay calm, okay?" The female said wearily to the still magically-bound Spike. "We've got some gems for you to eat, but only if you keep quiet."
"Cassy, please. He's not a dog. Now, let him go." The male said firmly, yet gently.
Spike couldn't help but think through the whole ordeal how odd the ponies beside him were. If they were anywhere near as strange looking as they were sounding, he figured his cold blooded heart might just give out. At the male's request, he felt the light pressure of his eyelids subside. Then, after a deep breath, he opened his eyes for the first time in two days. And boy, a sight it was. "GOOD GRACES! WHAT IN EQUESTRIA ARE YOU TWO!!??!!" He shouted, nearly feinting on the spot.
The male snickered before nudging the female in the stomach. "I told you he'd react this way. Now, that'll be twenty ecto, my sweet." He said in a cocky tone, however the snarky remark was barely audible over the panicked shrieks of their purple house-guest. "Guess the title still holds strong then, ehh?"
The female, who at first raised a forehoof to slap, was overcome with a fit of panic and couldn't follow through. "Oh shut up, Caesar! He's throwing a fit! I really thought he'd be able to handle us..." She said sadly, facehoofing. "Maybe we should've let him only open one eye."
In the middle of the bickering, Spike hadn't ceased to stop his yelling/pointing tirade. Losing hold on his sanity quicker than Twilight at a book burning, he tried to make out the features of his 'saviors' before losing consciousness. The smaller of the two (Also the one he presumed to be the male) was looking down at him with belittled amusement. From a distance, Spike imagined somepony would mistake him for a changeling. But, upon closer inspection, they would be sorely mistaken. With an almost amorphous ebony-tinted coat, you could practically see through him. On the other hoof, the second face looked upon him with a hint of panic in her eyes. Her honey-glaze coat, thankfully, had a definite shape. The only thing that was noticeably different about her was that she was at least double the size of the common earth pony.
With a fervent mix of horror and amazement, Spike feared for the worst. "I'm going to die, aren't I? I'm actually going to die." He uttered grimly, bringing his talons to his face. "Although I have to admit, being trapped in psycho-dream-fantasy world was pretty far down on the 'Weird Ways To Go' list." He said with a chuckle. Looking up from his legs to the bickering 'ponies', he sighed deeply before getting out of the no-longer comfortable cot. Taking a deep breath, he needed to get their attention. "HEY! Can you two stop fighting!? I think I'm going to pass out, and the yelling isn't helping much."
The duo immediately drew a cease fire, sharing a glare at the flustered Spike. The female was the first to speak. "Oh, dear. I'm so sorry! I knew we should've worn the masks..." She said sadly, her brow furrowing.
"Cassy, please. The last thing we needed to do is put our guest through more mental turmoil. I for one am glad he's looking at us in our true forms. Besides, he'd have to get used to seeing Abstracticum in its true colors in one way or another." The small, raspy male said sternly. Taking steps towards Spike, he smiled genuinely as he extended an amorphous forehoof. "The name's Caesar. Welcome to Abstracticum."
Spike looked confusingly from his own claws to the hoof of Caesar, but after a moment of thought, decided that this surely wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen today. He grasped the hoof firmly, and with a smile. "Spike. Spike Sparkle, but Spike'll do." He said smoothly.
After three solid shakes, they broke the union. "It's a pleasure. The fine piece of flank to my right is my lovely wife, Cassy. She's the one who saved your life."
Cassy slapped Caesar upside the head, nearly knocking him to the floor. "Oh stop it, you! You're making me blush!" She said in a sheepish tone. With his eyes closed, Spike couldn't help but compare her voice with that of Fluttershy's own angelic tone. But, like apples to oranges, her physical frame betrayed it.
The dragon couldn't help but smile innocently. "Thank you, Cassy. I'm grateful for the save and all, really. But..." Spike managed stretch, scratching behind his head. "There's this one thing..."
Caesar raised his head to comment, but was pushed to the floor again by his wife. In a fit of emotion, she grabbed Spike by his shoulders and lifted him to her chest. "Oh sweetie, if there's anything I can do to help you, please. Just name it." She cooed, brushing his spikes with a hoof.
Between the crushing bear-hug and the thought of premature death, Spike collected his thoughts. Caesar and Cassy were definitely ponies (No mater how bizarre looking) who seemed to know something. After his ordeal with Nocturn, the one thing Spike truly cared for was getting back home. The thing is, he had no idea how. "Caesar, can I ask you something?" He said upon his release, falling to the rugged floors with a thud. "It's about...what did you say this place is again?"
"Abstracticum, my dear boy. The home of nightmares, daydreams, and everything in between. Fortunately for you, Cass and I are of the nicer brand of denizens." Caesar stated kindly, waving Spike to his side. "Come, little dragon. I feel the only way you can truly know our realm...is to see it for yourself." The see-through pegasus said with a smirk.
Cassy looked from Spike's curious face to her husband's with a confused glare. "But Caesar! If he goes outside, someone will see for sure! Shouldn't we just, of I don't know, let him rest a little longer?" She said frantically. Her new-found friend was a the forefront of her mind, and she wanted him to be safe...in her arms, to be specific. "What if the Overseer--"
The giantess was shushed by a purple set of talons. "Please...Cassy, is it? I appreciate your concern, but if I'm going to be here in...Abstracticum, I think taking a look around would be the best course of action." Spike said as reassuringly as possible. Noticing tears beginning to form in Cassy's eyes, he wrapped his arms around her warmly. "Please, ma'am. I don't belong here, and the only way I'll be able to get back to my friends and family is to see where I am. Okay?"
The golden mare smiled, frowned, then smiled again. "I...I'm sorry. I hadn't imagined how strong a little dragon such as yourself would be. I mean, I know how big and tough your species can get, but I n-never imagined how serious the younglings a-are," The large yet frail Cass said in a somber tone, still fighting back tears. "And if this is what you see fit, by all means, I'm not one to hold you back," Turning her head to the left, she nodded at her silent husband. "You two play nice then." And brushed the dragon in the direction of the Caesar.
Feeling a heavy lump in his throat, Spike looked high up at the face of his savior with his best fake smile. His feelings of gratitude were genuine, but his life-long family were at risk and nothing was going to prevent him from saving them. He waved a set of claws at Cassy before walking to Caesar's side and over to large metal door.
Before the two walked out, the amorphous pegasus stallion looked down at Spike discerningly. "You know, you handled that quite well for a kid. I'm not sure if even I could walk away from something so casually." He stated in his most comforting tone of voice, now resting a see-through hoof on his Spike's shoulder. "It takes a cool head to manage one's self so appropriately," And with those words, he coughed twice and removed the hoof. "Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's go see the quarry. Stick with me, and we'll both be home for dinner, okay?"
Spike nodded once, donning a poker face as he did so. "Shall we?"
Caesar smirked slightly at his diligence. "We shall." And pushed the door open to the Abstracticum memory mines's living quarter.
See How Screwed You Really Are...
Caesar closed the large wooden doors as quietly as he could before turning to face the worried-looking Spike. "Kid, I'm sorry you had to see that, I truly am. It's just my dear Cassy gets awfully emotional at times and can't control herself. Down here in Abstracticum, we rarely see anything-- or anypony outside of our co-workers and the Overseer. To my wife, you're a breath of fresh air," The amorphous pegasus said sincerely, coughing several times afterwards. "You understand, right?"
Spike nodded twice at the statement, still slightly shaken from the previous exchange of emotion. "It's no problem, Caesar, really. In fact, your wife's not nearly as emotional as some of the ponies I know," He stated with a light chuckle, looking from the near-invisible Caesar to take in his surroundings. From what he could tell, the two of them were standing in what looked like an office room. "Hey, Caesar, I thought you said you were going to take me outside? From the looks of it, we're going to be filing tax returns."
"Hey, it's not my fault we have to pass through my office first, now is it?" Caesar said with a lick of sarcasm. "Now, if you'd follow me to the actual door," He said before yet another fit of coughs. Walking towards another, much larger wooden door, he beckoned for Spike to follow. "Well, come on now. Abstracticum isn't going to present itself on a silver platter you know," The pegasus said with bemused worry. "And please, whatever happens, you have to stay at my side. If anypony else saw you...well, let's try to think positive thoughts, ehh?"
The purple dragon's jaw physically dropped at the statement. "Are you serious? W-what do you mean by that? And how could I possibly hide with you, you're practically invisible!" Spike questioned/shouted/complained, all the while pointing an accusing talon at his companion. "Isn't there anything you can do to help me be, oh I don't know, more unnoticeable ?"
Caesar brought his hoof from the door to his chin as he looked around the room briefly. "Hmm...I can see your point. Now, this may sound a little left-field, but I'm positive this may help you and your...visible problem." He said shortly, sizing up the small dragon.
Spike's mind raced for what felt like the hundredth time that day, wracked with possibilities. Turning his head away momentarily, he said a silent prayer under his breath. "Dear princess Celestia, if you're listening, hear me now. Please spare my frail heart from having to do something I'll regret, your ever faithful scribe, Spike..." One quick hail-Luna later, he looked back to Caesar who, now smiling, rested a hoof on his shoulder.
"Don't worry lad, the last thing I'm going to make you do is commit some sort of heinous act of witchcraft, that's what the Dae-- ahh, never mind. But back to your little predicament. I have good new, and bad news...Pick your poison." Caesar said slyly, his face switching between a smile and a frown between coughs.
After a slight face-twitch, Spike gulped and raised his left claws. "I'd like the good news first, please." He said with a stutter. "And I'd appreciate that you break the bad news as nicely as possible, thanks." And proceeded to scratch the back of his head.
"You asked for it. The good news is that you'll be almost completely invisible if you follow my instructions. The bad news is, well, the instructions." Caesar said between coughs.
"...And the instruction are?" The curious Spike asked, twiddling his claws as he did so.
Caesar closed his eyes and breathed deeply, filling his lungs before staring Spike dead in the eyes. "You'll have to Daydream."
Spike's face cringed at Caesar's words and, with slight exhale, looked up curiously. "Beg your pardon?"
"I imagined you'd show some degree of confusion, so let's take this from the top; I'm going to put a spell on you that will 'Put you to sleep'." Caesar said, slightly accentuating the sleeping part. "Now, before thoughts of 'How will that help at all!?' start crossing your mind, I'm going to explain this as simply as I can, okay?"
Spike nodded, biting his lower lip. "I'm a-all ears." He stated with worry dripping in his voice.
"Glad to hear it," Caesar said, taking a sigh of relief before continuing. "Now, when the spell takes hold, you're physical body will remain here, in the office...However, your mind will be able to walk and talk as you would normally. How this is possible? Well, to be honest, I'm not totally sure myself. Outside of mind-heist operations, me and Cass try to stay out of Daydream for...various reasons. For one, it gives my wife bad stomach pains," Caesar said frustratingly, now going off on a tangent. "If it wasn't for the god-damned night regent and her day-forsaken rules, we'd be able to live a normal life! But no, that'd be too easy...instead, we have to listen to every little whim she and the Overseer can come up with!" Caesar shouted, his amorphous coat beginning to stir in a way similar to gamma radiation. "You know what, Spike? I'm glad you're going to take that witch down a peg! She's had it coming a long, long time, and quite frankly the time has come for a change in pace down here!"
The four-foot five dragon visibly shuddered at the outburst Caesar had dumped on him. From the start, he'd done nothing more than comment on his wife's courteousness and how not to worry, and now he was literally shimmering with rage. The feeling deep down in his stomach was, needless to say, terrified at the pegasus-shaped mass of anger before him, but back in his mind, he realized something; Nocturn had been enslaving these ponies, much like king Sombra and the crystal empire. The very thought of enslavement struck a chord in Spike's heartstrings, filling him with a feeling of rebellion against the dark force that had tried to corrupt him. "Caesar, stop." Spike said flatly, holding his left claws to the pegasus's chest.
Not a moment later, the fire in Caesar's eyes faded as he looked into Spike's own. "Praise the creator, I'm sorry son. I never meant to put words of anger and violence in your head, it's just that whenever I think about--" He started saying, but was quickly silenced by Spike's own claws on his shoulder.
"That's just it, Caesar. I know how it's like to feel...betrayed. If anything, I'd only like to help you, your wife, or anypony else willing to get something going down here. The thing is, I don't know exactly what's happening." Spike said philosophically, staring straight into the eyes of the stallion.
Caesar could only frown, shaking his head as his shimmering form began to settle. "Son, I'm going to tell you this one time only, so listen up," Caesar said Solemnly before coughing twice, clearing his throat. A moment later, he closed his eyes and began to sing,
"Here in the darkness that we lay, Depression heavy in its weigh, And how my body aches to leave, To sing its final eulogy, My sons I love you evermore, And though the road beckons once more, I see the damage that I've done, In search for redemption, But I am just a broken man, Whose souls cries out to understand, How the madness shatters me, Upon the stage on bended knee, I scream out loud at skies above, That answer mute bereft in love, I struggle not to fall from grace, Or sing the hymns of my disgrace...
We Build Cathedrals to our pain, Establish monuments to attain, Freedom from all of the scars and the sins, Lest we drown in the darkness within..."
And after a moment later, he reopened his eyes and sighed deeply. "You might not have understood the full meaning behind those words, but let me explain; Down here in Abstracticum, every pony here gets what they've deserved. Each and every one of us have come to accept our role in history...even if it's nothing more than a solitary breath on the all-maker's wind. We're content with our punis--," Caesar said hotly, bringing a hoof to his chin. "No...this isn't a punishment. It's a position. The only thing separating us from the common Equestrian is our... unnatural disposition ," He finished, once more laying his left forehoof on Spike's shoulder. "Don't think for a second that we're the ones needing to be saved, in fact, it's the exact opposite. You're the one Nocturn sent here, no doubtedly against your will I take it?"
Spike nodded his head 'Yes'.
"I would imagine. But listen to me close now," The pegasus said sternly, kneeling down so he could talk at Spike's level. "Me and my wife are going to get you out of here. The mere fact that Nocturn tried to dump you down here is a sign that you have a stronger mind than she originally thought, and she's afraid. Now, I'm not sure what exactly you said or did to be sent here, but I guarantee you, you won't be for long if you listen. If you're willing to put your life on the line, my wife and I can at least try to send you back to your friends, but only if you do just that. The journey would be hard fought, and we may need to gather the support of the others, but I'm sure if you're willing to try, we can get you home and, most importantly, the soon-to-be torn Equestria."
Throughout Caesar's entire speech, Spike couldn't help but feel crushed under the weight of the burden he was now undertaking. The mere fact that a simple trip out the door has turned into a world-changing confrontation shook Spike to the bones...There was a good reason he was content with having Twilight make all the hard decisions. For he himself to be forced into the spotlight, it was (To say the least ) unnerving. "I'm sorry, Caesar, but this is all moving too fast for me. I walked through that wooden door thinking I'd be looking at the sky from a doorstep, but here we are, talking about me starting a possible revolution? No offense, but I don't think I'm in the position to start an uprising. I'm only a...baby , dragon," The young drake said, gulping at his words. "Heck, half the time I can barely handle myself without one of the others having to bail me out. I think I might need to see what I'm up against first...or at least get a chance to rest my head..." He with sorrow in his voice before raising his left talons to his forehead.
Caesar's brow furrowed at his words, but not a moment later he relaxed. "I...see." He said calmly, looking from the oaken floor to his hooves. A second later he trotted over to an office chair and sat himself down, starting to read from a large black book.
Spike cocked an eyebrow as the amorphous pegasus seated himself. "Caesar, what are you doing?" He asked, taking steps in the now-exhausted looking Caesar. "Did...did I do something wrong? Was it something I said? If it's about me not wanting to throw myself to the wolves, I'm sorry but--"
"Hush, boy. Can't you see I'm reading?" Caesar interjected, holding a hoof in the direction of Spike as he continued to flip through pages.
The confused dragon could only cross his arms. "Well, you don't have to be so snarky about it..." He said with a touch of aggravation in his voice.
"You're starting to sound like my wife, young one. But please, can't you just have a look around for a moment?" Caesar chimed, flipping several more pages with his wings. "Maybe pick up a book to preoccupy yourself?"
Taking the advice of the pegasus, Spike begrudgingly plodded over to the nearest shelf and picked up the first book he saw, "The Ponynomicon ? What in Equestria is this?" He asked, grasping the binding. A heartbeat later, a near-invisible wing slapped the book from Spike's claws. "Hey, what was that for?" The dragon asked, his theoretical jimmies now rustled.
"Pick another one." Was the only response from Caesar, still paging through the black book.
Spike sighed and looked towards the shelf coolly. "Sheesh, if you insist..." And after a brief skim of the bindings, Spike rested his eyes on a white & gold colored biography titled 'The Sum of All Fears'. Cocking an eyebrow, he pulled the tome from the mahogany bookshelf and opened to the first page with curiosity. "To my daughter, Nightingale. May the world spare you from its pain." Spike looked from the passage to Caesar. Noting the pegasus's reluctance to look from the book, he seated himself on one of the comfier looking couches and began reading quietly to himself. "Chapter One: The Heretic's Brand..."
After a solid hour of reading, Spike could take no more of The Sum. Rubbing his eyes, he dog-eared the page and returned the tome to its spot on the shelf and turned his head back to the desk Caesar had last been seated. Much to the dragon's surprise, the amorphous pegasus had vanished. "Caesar?" He asked aloud, scanning the room for any sign of him. "Caesar, are you still here? Because this isn't funny at all." Spike gulped, a lump beginning to take form in his stomach. "Please, I don't think my heart can take any more of this--"
Then like a gust on the wind, the door opened and Caesar stood tall at the doorway, two saddlebags brimming with what seemed to be spices. "Honey, I'm home," He chimed, closing the door behind him with a hindleg. "What'd I miss?"
Spike breathed a sigh of relief as he trotted over to Caesar, taking one of of the bags into his own arms. "Oh thank Celestia, I thought you'd evaporated for a second. What happened when I was reading?"
"I paged through one of my old journals about Abstracticum and her secrets, and I found out-- You know, let's talk about this over lunch. I bought some gems," He stated, stretching his muzzle into the other saddlebag. Withdrawing a flawless looking sapphire, he edged it onto the table. "You do eat gems, right?"
Spike moved his left claws over his stomach, the muscle audibly groaning at the sight of the delectable looking stone. Realizing he'd not eaten in practically two days, he began salivating as he reached tentatively towards the tantalizing treat...only to have his talons slapped away. "Blargh , what was that for!?" He shouted a little too loudly, a low fire singing the insides of his eyeballs.
Caesar laughed heartily, coughed fiercely, then wiped a tear from his eye. "Easy lad, in this household, we eat in the dining room...together. Come, we'll talk more about your predicament over some Spiddal Stick, ehh?"
Eyes still locked tightly on the sapphire, Spike licked his lips as he slowly nodded yes.
"Great to hear it. Besides, the outside can wait for us to have dinner. Like a wise pony once said, 'Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?'"
Eat Your Veggies, Talk a Little, and...Wait, WHAT?!? [Coming Soon!]
The wind blew softly through the luscious glades of the Canterlot Gardens, bringing forth a low sigh from Spike as he and Lyra trotted to the entrance of the royal maze. After becoming the personal assistant to one of the most powerful deities in existence, Spike was (To say the least) reluctant to have company on the venture. However, the mint coated mare was stalwart about staying with him after the incident at the lake. Plus, as much as he hated to admit it, she was kinda cute --In a totally platonic way, of course-- and was a good talker, no matter her quirks. Her knowledge of musical magics was vast, suspiciously vast, and she seemed to know a mystical tune for just about everything. Relishing in the silence that had ensued after their previous exchange of words, Spike pondered just why she was at the lake in the first place for a while. After two minutes and no clear answer, he figured he could try to drum up another exchange.
"So, Miss Heartstrings, you're really set on walking me through the maze, aren't you?" Spike stated with a slight smile. He brushed the scales atop his head and looked to the mare beside him, hoping for an honest answer. Thirty seconds and no response later, he looked from Lyra's face to the golden lyre wrapped loosely around her waist. Dangling just before her left flank, it bounced back and forth gracefully with her every hoof-fall. The instrument was magnificent; A golden body with three elegantly strung chords, it looked as if the mystical instrument was hoof-made, no doubt the fruit of her own labor. Then, deciding that the topic of Daydream should be kept under wraps, the young dragon again tried his claws at a new way of provoking conversation. "Hey, Lyra. I figured that since you know so much about music, could you maybe answer a question of mine?" He stated quizzically, his eyes once again meeting her golden irises.
Lyra looked from the bushes to Spike, tilting her head slightly then smiling joyously. "But of course! What's on your mind, sport?" She asked enthusiastically. "Auntie Lyra's got an answer for ALL the questions!" She continued, stopping mid trot to catch her breath. "There's never been a musical question I couldn't answer!" And with that, she looked away from Spike and took a detour into a rest area.
Following the strange mare's lead, Spike too stopped and walked over to the base of a pine tree and sat himself down. "Well, in the time since we've started talking, I've learned that you're quite the knowledgeable pony," Spike said sincerely, scratching the back of his head with his left talons. "Lately, I've been wrapped up in some...business, and I don't know which way to think about it. I only want what's best for my friends, but I'm not sure how to go about it. You're smart, so I figured you could give me a little, oh I don't know, insight on the topic?"
"Seems legit, I've been entangled with my own little adventure recently, so I might be able to help..." Lyra chirped, a smile splitting her face. "But...I think the best way to answer you question is in song. K?"
Spike's face was a fluent mix of confusion at the statement, but if Lyra could help put his mind at ease through riddles, he was willing to give it a shot. "By all means, enlighten me." He said shortly, kicking his legs up as he sat back against the pine. "I'm a melting pot of knowledge."
Half a second later, the minty mare's face turned from a smile to one of utmost seriousness. She levitated her lyre from her back and sat down a few feet in front of Spike, closing her eyes as she did so. Strumming the chords harmoniously, she began to sing.
"Oh well, honor for all, of the big and the small, well the taller they stand, well the harder they fall, we live for today, but we die for the next, with blood in our veins, and the air in our chest, so we step into war, with our hearts on the line, the dirt on our hooves, that is free over time,
The music it fades, the violin slows, the darkness it rises, as the sun goes,
Love is a distant aroma at best, A withering smile that's stuck deep within your vest, At night air it wraps its fetlocks around, Your body it shakes from the now distant sound, Of the sound of her voice, A sweet symphony, played over and over Until' you are free,
The music it fades, the violin slows, darkness it rises, as the sun goes,
Can you feel the new day rising, Climbing up the East horizon, they can't hold us, now we'll fight through, these hooves, everyone will start new,
well we shall not stumble, no we shall not fall, we shall not crumble, no we shall stand tall, with death it will come as sore as the night, but we will not run, no we live but to fight, with blood on our hooves and lights in the skies, we'll tear at the ones who crushed Nocturn's dreams,
The music it fades, the violin slows, the darkness it rises, as the sun goes,
Can you feel the, new day rising, climbing up the, east horizon, they can't hold us, now we'll fight through, each and everyone will start new..."
And with that, Lyra Heartstrings opened her eyes as she returned her lyre to its sash, smiling sweetly all the while.
Throughout the course of the serenade, Spike watched with wonder in his eyes. The tune, the melody...the lyrics. They all made so much sense, he thought he might have been dreaming again. But no...he wasn't. This mare knew of not only his situation, but Nocturn as well...but how? How could this complete stranger know about everything he'd experienced in the past twenty-four hours!?
"Because, silly. I can read minds!" She chirped harmoniously not more than a millisecond later.
Spike thought he was going to throw up. "I-I-I...t-that's impossible, and we both know it!" He accused, pointing a purple claw at his company. With no audible response from the mare in question, Spike collected his thoughts and controlled his breathing. "How...how could you possibly know about her ?"
Lyra smirked genuinely before trotting to Spike's side. "You see, Spike, you aren't the only one the mistress has turned to for assistance. You may have certainly been one of the first, but the night regent has touched us all," She said warmly, wrapping a foreleg around Spike's neck. "While some push her away, other more open-minded individuals --You and I, for example-- have heeded the call of Nocturn. Unbeknownst to most however, is her ability to communicate through subconscious means. When she first contacted you, did you happen notice her strange affiliation with music? Perhaps, she carried an instrument of sorts? Maybe even so far as holding...a radio?" Lyra asked, now warming up to the dragon beside her.
Meanwhile, Spike was starting to finally come to terms with what he recognized as fate. If Nocturn truly had this much influence over the ponies of Equestria, then maybe siding with the deity wasn't a bad move after all. After a fierce moment of ponder, Spike returned his attention to the question at hoof. "Sure she did. When I was dreaming, she wouldn't stop going on about her radio...Why do you ask?"
The mare scratched the back of her head with a forehoof, chuckling as she did so. "Well you see Spike, Nocturn is tied to dreams," She said, putting a hoof in Spike's face as he attempted to speak up. "Easy, tiger. I know you probably know this, but bear with me," She continued, retracting her minty hoof from Spike's personal space. "When you're dreaming, Luna has guarded you from potentially threatening nightmares for as long as history remembers. On the other hoof, the figment known as Nocturn had always wanted to test the minds of the Equestrians through subconscious trials," Lyra explained buoyantly, looking to the now-rising moon in the distance with a smile. "Now, as you probably now understand, Nocturn was never really a pony. Like Discord, she was thought of as a creature straight out of mythology...until she took over princess Luna, of course. Unfortunately for the night regent, Luna had been under astronomical amounts of stress in the last century, and was beginning to crack under the feeling of uselessness. Therefore, after Nocturn finally attempted to have Luna see why her way was best, she snapped."
Spike sat dead-pan silent at the side of Lyra the whole time, staring blankly at the grass as he listened. The figure he'd known as Nocturn seemed to more colorful than Rainbow Dash's mane. After a brief period of silence, the drake looked up and into Lyra's eyes questioningly. "Is...Is that it? What happened after Luna snapped? And better yet, how do you know all of this?" He asked curiously.
"Please hold all questions until the end of the lecture," Lyra chimed, winking at the dragon. "Now, where was I...Ahh ha! Yes, Luna's figurative snapping. You see, the princess of the night had always known of Nocturn's existence to a point. As sure as the night, Nocturn would help Luna spiritually with the stress of being princess. Kind of like a mother, you dig?"
Spike nodded, still trying consume the information he was receiving.
"Cool," Lyra continued, staring longingly into the face of the moon. "Now you see, Nocturn --like any parent-- wanted her child to see things her way. Naturally, this way of thinking came with mixed responses. Spike, do you remember reading anything about Daydream before you met Nocturn?"
The dragon scratched his chin at the question. He knew he had read something about Daydream before wandering into the maze, but what was it? "Yes, I think I did. It was some sort of entry by princess Luna...I just can't remember what its details were. Why?"
"Was it her 'Last Conscious Thoughts' by any chance?" Lyra asked curiously, smirking.
Spike's face lit up with the revelation. "Yes, yes it was! It was something about her...consuming, a great evil. Wait...you don't mean to tell me that Luna..."
Lyra nodded twice. "Indeed she did, Spike."
Spike's face turned white. "She ATE her!?"
At the outburst, Lyra did a barrel roll and flopped to her side in laughter. "D-did anypony ever t-tell you that you have an over-active imagination?" She said between stretched periods of laughter, all the while Spike sat just as shocked as he was two minutes ago. Taking the hint that he was, in fact, not kidding around, the minty unicorn sat upright and redid her frazzled mane. "Because, uhh, you...Forget about it. Anywho, no. Luna did not eat Nocturn. In fact, she tried her hardest to do the exact opposite; She tried to destroy her."
Spike had regained control of his nerves, so he was no able to reply again. "Destroy her? But why? If what Nocturn's said is true, she only wanted to help Equestria. Why would the princess even consider dispatching a kind hearted spirit like that?"
"Just as every yin has its yang, Nocturn isn't at all perfect," Lyra said yawning, her horn beginning to glow as she levitated her lyre out of its sash. "In fact, she's about as normal as you and I. Here, take my lyre for example," The mare continued, now holding the mystical instrument in her forehooves. "Each of the strings represent a different sound. On their own, they're nothing more than a monotone crying in the wind, but together, they form a graceful melody capable of being heard throughout generations. You and I, as well as the others, are simple chords on our own. But in the hooves of a capable musician, we can change everything ." She concluded, yawning once more.
Spike, at the sight of Lyra yawning, yawned himself. "Jeez, Lyra, you're making me pretty tired. I appreciate the history about astral deities, but I need to ask you something important; Where do I fit into all of this?"
Slinging her lyre back over her waist, the minty mare got to her hooves and began walking towards a clearing in the maze.
"Hey-- Wait! Where are you going!?" The confused Spike shouted after his aquamarine-coated compatriot.
Lyra pulled her stone-colored hoodie over her head as she began channeling magical energy through her horn. "I think..it's about time...you met the...others, ehh?" She said between gasps of air, smirking the whole time.
Spike had just arrived at the clearing when a magnificent beam of golden energy shot from the head of Lyra Heartstrings, summoning a gold/green tinted portal six feet away. The sudden eruption of magic sent the drowsy dragon to the ground, nearly knocking the wind from his lungs. "Sweet Celestia! What is THAT!" He shouted, pointing accusingly at the magical pool of energy.
"That, my purple-scaled friend, is our fast-pass out of the maze," The semi-serious Lyra chimed through panted breaths. "Now...hop on." She commanded, eying Spike, her back, then Spike again with a wink.
Spike bit his lower lip, knowing full well that this could be the last chance he would have to back out of the twisted journey he was about to go through. At the summit of his courage, Spike swallowed his fear of the unknown, climbing the metaphorical mountain of fear he'd created...and mounted Lyra's back. "Okay, Heartstrings. I've trusted you this far, so I suppose I can trust you a little longer," He said half to himself as he hopped up on the mare. "But please, promise me you'll answer my question?" The visibly shaken dragon asked.
Lyra laughed heartily before turning to eye Spike. She could tell he was shaken and scared, so she winked and whispered, "Don't worry, young dragon. All will be revealed soon... " And ran head-first through the portal with a 'Yee Haw!'.
Seek Your Answers [Coming Soon!]
