For every morning for the past few months, Spike had been able to find a relief from his hours of chores, assistant duties to various ponies, and of course, making sure Twilight didn't pull her mane out hair by hair. Ever since he had become friends with Pipsqueak, his new friend had been finding things to do for them every day in spare time they had in the early mornings. Pip had grown from a little foal enjoying his first Nightmare Night to a 15 year old colt, but it seemed that the time to mature hadn't had an effect on a true carefree spirit.
“Hey Spike! You're late ya Firelizard!” He had said with a wide grin as Spike finally arrived at their lake with the fishing gear. While they had done everything from relieving Sugarcube Corner of it's inventory at the first sign of opening time, to hanging out with the former Cutie Mark Crusaders, recently it had been fishing that was happening the most. And there was a very good reason for that.
“You must be running low by now, it's been nearly a week since we've been out here.” Pip said as he and Spike started to make their way to their favorite fishing spot.
Spike replied “Yeah. I am kind of running out of food. Only had gems yesterday...” he trailed off as they sat down and started setting up with a practiced detachment. In no time at all the pair had sat down, backs to each other and lines in the water. Spike had grown to just over the size of a pony, though he remained regrettably wingless. And that was where his problem laid, he was a growing dragon and growing dragons didn't get to be ten stories tall on daises and carrots.
Fish was starting to grate on him but it was all he still felt comfortable eating. Not necessarily because he was against killing animals to eat, but because of his friends... just what would they think? And one pony in particular had him worried...
“Hey Pip?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Fluttershy will be afraid of me once I'm grown? And what about the others?”
Pip shook his line a little bit. “Aw come on, you've grown up here Spike, everypony knows you wouldn't hurt a parasprite. I don't think they're gonna turn on you for something you can't change. But you know you can't stick with just fish forever.” He spoke truth. Spike had been putting off adding any kind of meat that wasn't fish to his diet.
“And there's that too. Fluttershy would die of a heart attack if I ate anything cute.”
“Well, what does she think isn't cute?”
“Fish.”
“...Ah.”
The brief exchange triggered another silence. Spike broke it again. “I'm just afraid I'm going to get thrown out of town eventually. Whether because I ate something from the forest that Fluttershy was taking care of, or because I'm bigger then everyone and they think I'm going to eat them.”
Pip pulled his line out of the water and turned back to Spike. “That ain't gonna happen. Twilight wouldn't let 'em, and besides, if they do try to run you out of town, I'll stick with ya. Promise.” He held out his hoof. Spike smiled and fist-bumped him. And with that, it was sealed.
“So Fluttershy...”
“Yes?” The pink haired mare said, not taking her eyes off the baby bunnies she was leaning over. Fluttershy had a hoofful of baby carrots and was trying to make sure each adorable little bunny was fed the same number.
“I was just wondering about something about animals.”
Fluttershy looked up with a smile. It wasn't that often someone stopped by to learn about animals, and Spike just didn't come by on his own often either.“Well, you've come to the right pony Spike. What is it you want to know?”
“Well, some animals eat other animals, right?”
Fluttershy's smile faded a bit. “Well, y-yes... they do. They're called carnivores, and they have sharp teeth for it, and claws for catching prey...” She said with a shudder, keeping to an academic definition.
“Uh huh... Well...” Spike paused. How to approach the situation delicately... Just come out and say it? 'Fluttershy, the taste of flesh, particularly of your beloved creatures makes my heart skip a beat. I'm over Rarity now, all I love now is dripping, bloody meat?' That one might not go over so well.
“Well, Fluttershy, are there any carnivores that are... like ponies? You know, talking and... stuff?”
Fluttershy thought a moment. “Only a few, and I don't think any live around here... apart from d-dragons...” She shivered again “O-oh, no offense Spike, I wasn't talking about you... since you only eat... gems, and fruits and vegetables... I meant big scary dragons.”
“...I know...” That tore it. Spike kept a straight face, but inside he let out a heavy sigh. He was too afraid to question further. But, he reminded himself, it wasn't the end of the world... he knew somepony that would be on his side... He hoped. “Anyway, gotta go Fluttershy, thanks for the chat!” He called, summoning up the courage and ran out the door, Fluttershy watching him run out of sight through her window.
“I hope he's okay... I hope he doesn't... give in or anything, once he's grown up.”
Rarity had to understand. They had been through a lot, hadn't they? Even if she didn't return his affections, she clearly cared deeply for him. There was no way she'd hate him for it.
“Oh, just leave that roll there... and please get me a handful of sapphires, darling.” Rarity crooned after Spike finished bringing back the black fabric she had asked for.
“Hey, Rarity, can I ask you a question?” Spike started for the third time today since this morning, fishing with Pip.
“Of course dear. Ask me anything you like!”
“Uh, Rarity, what are your thoughts on other dragons...?” Spike realized that had nothing to do with what he was getting at, but he was going to let it go. He could steer from here.
Rarity shook her head. “Oh, Darling, I'm afraid I do not like them at all. There are just some things that you have they don't that I simply cannot stand the absence of... appreciation of beauty, and the... noble behavior that characterizes you, and they have some of the most ghastly of habits.” She said, taking care of a few difficult little stitches here and there and sewing in one of the nicer sapphires.
While her compliments had predictably made his heart soar, the mention of "ghastly habits" worried him slightly. “What kind of habits do you mean?”
Rarity snipped off a bit of thread. “Like laying about all day on a pile of gems.. when those gems could be used for a lovely outfit by me, or made into jewelry, or even be eaten! But no, they just hoard them all day to be used as a bed...” The ivory colored fashionista paused to concentrate on her work as she very carefully brought two insignificant pieces of fabric to be wed together. Now she just had to finish her work on the gems. But she wasn't done yet with the rant Spike had gotten her started on. “Ooooh! And all that nasty smoke, just pumping it out into the air like they don't care, I'm so glad you can control yourself, dear.” Spike was beginning to feel a bit better... Someday he would produce a lot more smoke, but he was sure that Twilight would have some way to help him with it. It did not concern him now.
“But it really sends shivers up my spine...” She began again, getting Spike's attention again. “The dietary habits. I can hardly stand it when cats and dogs must eat meat, Spikey, oooh, it just makes me feel so... queasy.” She seemed finished with this one. Spike stared down at the sapphire still in his hand, feeling his shoulders raise and fall with each breath.
Rarity took the finished product off of her worktable and quickly pulled it over herself, modeling a fashionable black cloak, inlayed with dark sapphires. It even had a hood to pull up over your head if you wanted to look dark and mysterious. And that's just what she did before she turned back to present a profile view to her part time assistant. “So, Spikey-Wikey, what do you think? A little too much for something so utilitarian?” When no answer came, she pulled down the hood hesitatingly, glancing around and calling “Spike, Dear?”
Spike had already gone, somehow sneaking out silently while she put the outfit on. She was a bit disappointed, but more concerned. Could it be... could it be that Spike had a little pile of gems at home that he liked to sleep in? That would just be awful, she couldn't go without her little assistant's help. She made a note to stop by to formally apologize once she had finished putting the cloak away...
Ever since he got back from Rarity's, Spike hadn't the courage to ask his other friends about his issue. It would have been one thing if Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash had a problem with it, he wasn't especially close to either of them, but this was Rarity. Rarity, the mare he had been crushing on for years. Rarity, the most beautiful, the classiest pony he had ever met, The Element of Generosity, and the pony he had been employed part time by for the past couple years had confessed she was disgusted by something he must do or die.
Spike lay on his bed alone upstairs, staring at the library's ceiling. It was calmingly quiet now, and he found himself... unwilling to simply cry and be done with it. After all, he was too old to cry. The sound of a clock pendulum ticking back and forth, the sound of birds in the distance, the sound of wind blowing through the leaves of their home... Listening to all of this was slowly lulling him to sleep until the door opened and slammed shut. That would be Twilight.
“Spike, I'm back. Sorry I was gone, I got held up at the post office talking to Ditzy, you know how it is.” She called from downstairs. “Spike, where are you?”
Spike knew he should have answered that, but he just kept quiet and stayed laying in bed for now, dazed from being woken up. He guessed that he really had fallen asleep after all. Twilight was already trotting up the stairs.
“Spike, are you home- Oh there you are!” Twilight ran over to his bed and blinked. “Is something wrong? Are you sick?”
Now he had to talk. “No...” it didn't sound very convincing with how scratchy his voice sounded, of course. Now she probably thought he had Lizard Flu. “Just...”
“Just what? No, don't talk, rest up and I'll get to work on some medicine. ...Er, can you tell me where I left the book of dragon illness?”
Spike pulled himself up to a sitting position. “No, no, I'm not sick Twilight. I was just thinking about something.” He said after clearing his throat. He was still in a haze from sleeping. How long had he been out? “Twi, I think... everypony's going to hate me if I start eating meat.”
Twi whipped her head around to him “Where would you get that idea? I mean, there's no way your... our friends are just going to abandon you because of something like that... as long as you don't eat anything that talks that is.”
“I don't know about that Twi...” Spike stretched as he got off the bed. “I talked to Fluttershy and Rarity earlier... Neither of them seemed too tolerating of the concept...” That caught Twilight's attention. Rarity? She knew how hard that was going to be on him.
“Oh Spike... I'm sure it's going to be different. You're not a stranger to them. You can't change something like this, so... they'll just have to accept you. And they're good ponies. I'm sure they will.”
They stayed quiet for a while after that as Spike dozed off to sleep again.
Fluttershy landed at Sweet Apple Acres and tucked her wings back in carefully. It was about the end of the harvesting season, and Applejack would surely be around here. She heard the sound of applebucking from her right and could see her friend a little way away. Applejack noticed her around the same time and approached in a slow trot. “Well, first time Ah've seen you around here in a while, Fluttershy. What can Ah do for ya?” Applejack at least appeared to be in high spirits, adjusting her stetson to look Fluttershy in the eye.
“Well, I'm a bit worried...” She paused. It was kind of a delicate subject. To her, anyway, and she felt all of the sudden nervous about talking about it. Normally she would have gone to see Rarity about it, but she didn't like to bother her while she was working... Applejack was always willing to talk but Rarity could get irritated at interruptions. “I'm a bit worried about Spike.”
Applejack's smile fell. So there was a problem. “What's the matter with him?”
“Well, he came to my house earlier, and he was asking about... carnivores.” Fluttershy lowered her head involuntarily. “And I'm worried he might have been trying to tell me h-he's eating m-meat...” She shivered as she finished. The thought was worrying her.
Applejack looked at Fluttershy in the same way one would look at someone that asked if it was true the little firelizard had a crush on Rarity. “Well shoot, izzat so? Better keep this between you an' me, or Pinkie's gonna try to throw 'im a first hunt party or somethin'. Wouldn't want that to happen now would we?”
Fluttershy stomped a hoof and glared. “This is serious, Applejack! What if he eats my animals!? Or-or if he hunted ponies when he got old enough-” Applejack stopped her right there, throwing her hat over Fluttershy's face to shut her up.
“Now listen here. Ah'm not gonna let yer imagination run away with ya on this one. Have some faith in 'im. He's Spike, for goodness sake, a dragon raised by Celestia herself and around ponies his whole life. He's not gonna eat any ponies, Ah promise. And as for animals, would ya rather he starve to death, or eat?” She gave the question bluntly. Maybe it wasn't the best way, but Fluttershy needed to get over that dragon fear before Spike grew up, one way or another.
“B-But...”
“Nope, no buts. Ah'm not gonna have you hurtin' his feelings about this. Got it?” Fluttershy nodded. “Good. Now later we can go have a talk with him, but fer now Ah gotta finish up this row a' trees.”
Fluttershy left the mare to her work and fluttered off back home. The wind was chilly that day.
Applebloom peeked out from behind a tree. So Spike was eating meat now, or something? She was gonna have to tell the other two about this.
“Yep, I heard all about it when they were talkin'! Spike's gonna be changing to eatin' meat soon.” Applebloom reported. “Said he'd starve if he doesn't.”
Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Well, I don't know what the big deal is. Spike's a good guy, and a dragon's gotta eat, just like the rest of us.”
“...And he's gonna go hunting in Everfree and eat Manticores and stuff, just so they'll think twice about bothering Ponyville when Spike's on guard duty!” Scootaloo related her much cooler sounding story to Rainbow Dash.
“He's growing up, Pinkie, Soon he'll be like, a hundred feet tall and Ponyville will have it's very own Dragon Guard!” Rainbow said in between the muffins Pinkie had gotten her.
“...But it's gonna be a surprise, so don't tell him I'm planning a 'Congratulations on your first hunt, Spikey' party for him! I mean, it's a big milestone for a little dragon, I'm sure!” Pinkie bounced in place while she described her plans to the Cakes, who looked at each other in concern.
“...I hope Fluttershy's going to be okay, it would just break her heart if Spike ate something she had as a pet.” Mrs. Cake said to Lyra at the laundromat while loading a mass of aprons into a washer.
“You mean that kid that hangs out with Twilight is a dragon? I thought he was a lizard!” Bon Bon exclaimed as Lyra explained the situation to her.
“I can't believe it, I heard that he's tasted pony once before in another town.” Carrot Top said while buying some flowers at Roseluck's.
“We've got to do something... think of the foals!” A shaking, fearful Lily said to a small crowd that had gathered to listen to her.
Spike had gone back to sleep and was resting comfortably after a little while of listening to the quiet tick-tock of the clock again. Downstairs Twilight looked carefully through a book about the diet of a dragon. Mostly she wanted to find some proof that Spike would be perfectly fine without pony in his diet, or even maybe something that could let him live on a vegetarian diet, though she knew that one was a long shot. Sure was some noise coming from outside though.
Rarity had been a bit late. She had meant to run over to the library as fast as she could, to get there and apologize to Spike, begging forgiveness for her rudeness. But halfway there she had realized it might be better to bring a nice gem to help cheer him up afterward. Not just any gem of course, she had to go and find one, the nicest, brightest, most perfect one she could. A dark red ruby that even she thought looked awfully appetizing. But so focused was she on how nice said jewel was that she walked right into somepony standing outside the library. She was about to excuse herself when she noticed the noise of a crowd, all standing outside Ponyville Library... Now just what was going on here!? She waded into the crowd and somewhat roughly tapped on the shoulder of a stallion that had been silently standing. “Just what is the meaning of this!?” She was in a bad mood now. First she offended her prized assistant. Then she spent too much time looking for this gem to apologize with, now she can't get to him because of some sort of flash mob gathered outside his house. Could this day get any worse?
“We're trying to run off the pony-eating monster that lives here, that's what!” Came the equally snappy answer from the colt.
As a matter of fact, the day could get quite a bit worse.
Twilight showed no sign of fear of the crowd as she stepped out of her home and shut the door violently behind her. She glared at the assembled ponies. “Now just what is your problem?”
A mare in the front of the mob took the lead in answering. “We want that menace out of our town!” She said with venom, hooves planted far apart in the ground like she was expecting an attack. It was a very real concern to her, considering just who she was talking to.
“What menace.” Twilight's question came out more like a statement. It was clear that she was not sympathetic to their cause. A few ponies backed away a step or two in fear of Twilight preparing some kind of spell. Their leader was not deterred.
“That pony-eating dragon, of course! First it tastes blood from squirrels and boars, then it moves on to larger prey, and then it's only a matter of time before it starts snacking on our foals!”
Inside, Spike was shivering in fear. All those ponies out here were here because of him, and they wanted to hurt him. They wanted to drive him off out of fear. They called him an it. He wondered if it would hurt to take a look out the window again. Spike stayed down low to the ground and slinked on all fours to a window and lifted a blind carefully to see. He didn't know any of these ponies. He might have seen them around town sometimes but their names were mostly unknown to him. A shopkeeper he had seen here and there, and Rarity. Rarity?
Yes, a double-take confirmed Rarity's place in the crowd. He dropped the blind and jumped away from the window in a fright, a pressure in his ears drowning out the sound of the crowd outside. He had really done it now, should have kept this whole thing to himself. But it was too late now and those hate-filled ponies out there were not going to leave until he did.
Well he was going to.
Twilight slammed the door behind her again, shutting out the idiots outside. There was no way she was going to let some specists run her best friend out of town. He was staying right here with her. “Spike? Spike, there's nothing to be afraid of...” She tried to strike a balance between soft and comforting and loud enough for him to hear her over the racket. Not getting any answer she trotted up the stairs... and gasped. Spike wasn't there, the back window was open, and Spike's lucky gem hoard was gone, along with a quill, inkwell, and a stack of parchments. In their place on the writing desk was a short message, hastily scribbled out.
Twilight:
I had to go so you'd be safe. I can't handle this kind of thing anyway.
I'll write you, and send letters to Celestia for you.
I love you,
Spike
Twilight's hooves shook as she leaned over the desk reading it again and again. Those ponies out there had driven her beloved little brother away. She knew she shouldn't have acknowledged them by going out there, and should have stayed in with Spike.
Celestia was going to hear about this.
Spike hadn't really bothered to keep track of time as he ran, but now that he glanced up he realized that it was about noon when he first ran and now the sun was now firmly in the afternoon range. Had he been running for almost an hour now? He slowed down to a stop... and realized he must have, given how his legs gave out instantly underneath him and his chin connected with the ground hard enough to make him forget his name for a second.
The next thing he was aware of was that somepony was tapping his side with their hoof, but he didn't have much in the way of energy for getting up and whacking them, so he just settled for a growl.
“Well good morning to you too, Spike.” Pip said, waking Spike up the rest of the way.
“Pip, how did you get out here...?” Spike panted out, still very winded from the marathon he had accidentally ran.
Pip sat back on his haunches and prepared to regale the dragon with his amazing tale. “Well, I was coming back home from an errand and I saw this crowd gathered outside your house and they seemed pretty mad, and I saw you run off out your back window, so I decided to follow you. I made a promise, remember?” Pip held up his right hoof to illustrate his point. He wasn't about to go back on a promise if it meant a little running around.
“And you ran miles without being winded... how?”
Pip continued smiling, rolling his shoulders as if the little stroll had only tired out his front legs a bit. “Earth Pony. I've been doing some part time work at Sweet Apple Acres in the summer... really helps you get into shape Spike. Oh, about that errand...” Pip reached into a saddlebag and pulled out a sack, setting it down next to the dragon. “You seemed so down this morning, I took the fish we caught, scaled and cooked em, and I even found a couple gems for dessert. I know you're not too big a fan of fish, but I just wanted to help...”
Spike pulled the bag open a bit and peered inside. There were some shapes wrapped in foil he assumed were the fish, and a smaller bag filled with bite sized little gemstones. “Wow Pip, I don't know what to say... I could sure use a good lunch. I'm starving. Thanks!” He looked up from the bag to give Pip a toothier smile then he intended before he started eating.
Spike experimentally stretched his limbs after taking some time to digest, finding that he didn't seem to have hurt anything. He probably shouldn't have expected that he might be hurt, dragons are made of tough stuff after all, but that running sure took a lot of energy. Maybe he'd be in a bit better shape after some time on the road. “Alright Pip, guess it's time for us to get going. If you have any reason whatsoever to go back home-”
Pip cut him off. “No way. I'm sticking with you, Spike. Can't let you go on an adventure alone.” Pip didn't seem to really grasp the gravity of the situation, but he failed in such a way that made Spike wonder if he himself did.
So without another word the pair started on their way forward into the unknown. The sun sank lower down the sky as evening started approaching, casting a yellow hue onto the countryside. In time, fields of trees and wildflowers and pastures of tall grass gave way to cultivated fields. Spike didn't like the idea of going to any further pony settlements, after the way ponies he had known for so long had treated him, but it looked like it would be the only way to go, with Pip still with him. He couldn't very well make the colt live a life of isolation like dragons do, could he? But then again, he didn't have a high opinion of the dragon lifestyle himself. They were going to find a way.
Pip stopped short as they crossed through a wood. “Hear that?” he whispered.
Spike crept closer to Pip and listened. Sure enough, there was some kind of sound he just couldn't put a finger on. It sounded kind of like magic being performed. Who the hay was out here in a wood practicing magic? Well, it couldn't hurt to go check... if anything, if they were friendly he could ask about any settlements nearby that might be sympathetic to a homeless dragon and a pony. He was already coming up with little fake species to claim to be. Think nopony would look up the word 'Drake'?
Pip was already sneaking off the path and into the trees to find the mystery magician, Spike following. As they got closer, Spike was able to identify the sound better; it was somepony attempting and failing a spell. Whoever it was was either a terrible magician or trying to cast a very difficult spell.
At the edge of a clearing, Spike was sure that they were right on top of their mystery unicorn, they must have been right there. The unicorn started up another attempt at the spell that seemed to carry on longer then before... just as Pip shot Spike a look and jumped into the clearing. Like an idiot.
What did he think was going to happen, scaring a unicorn mid-spell? This could only end badly. Spike was going to have to go in after him, hopefully fast enough to pull him away before something horrible happened. Unfortunately for Spike, a vengeful root tripped him and he fell flat on his face in the middle of the clearing, looking up to see a very startled... Trixie?
“Wh-” was all she was able to get out before they blinked out of existence, taking Spike, both ponies, Trixie's wagon, and about a foot of dirt underneath them somewhere far away, only leaving a perfectly round crater in the middle of the woods behind.
Author's Note
I don't feel like this chapter resembles what I want the rest of the story to be like but I suppose that's just what beginnings are. I still tried my best. Please tell me anything I did wrong in the comments!
It sure was nice of the dirt Trixie's spell had teleported with them to make a nice, soft landing area for them. Too bad it only served to produce a truly spectacular dust cloud when the little group of three dog-piled onto it in a heap, falling from four feet up. At least Trixie's wagon didn't want in on the fun, content to land about three feet away from Spike's head.
Trixie, on the top, was the first to wake up, and set about rousing Spike by bringing a hoof down on his head. "You idiots! You messed up the spell! Not even I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, know where we've ended up!"
Spike, second from the top, was awoken from his dazed state by Trixie's magnificent hoof and he wasn't happy about it. "Ow! We didn't mean to screw up your stupid spell!"
And poor Pipsqueak was left crushed on the bottom. "If you two don't get off of me, I'm gonna die."
Spike shoved Trixie's Great and Powerful flank off of him and rolled off of Pip himself, helping his friend out of the dust-cast he had found himself encased in. Now that she could get a good look at them, Trixie rolled her eyes. "Pah, and now Trixie has to babysit a pair of kids? Wonderful, just wonderful!"
Pip, who had made a full recovery, took offense. "Hey! I'm fifteen."
Not that Trixie acknowledged it. "I suppose now, you want Trixie to help you find your way back home, is that right?" She said, pouring a torrent of dust out of her hat.
Spike and Pip shared a glance, apparently thinking the same thing. "Not really." Spike said, in a tone reminiscent of somepony being asked if they wanted a drink refill.
Trixie did a double take, incredulous. She even momentarily lost her carefully maintained composure. "What!? Are you two a couple of runaways or something? Should I be worried about being accused of kidnapping?"
"No!" Pip spoke up. "Kind of. We got chased out of town!" He said with an odd combination of indignation and twisted pride. After all, not many colts got to say they were run out of town. Even if he had to stretch the truth to say it.
Trixie glanced back and forth at the two boys that had hitched a ride with her. They didn't seem much like the public menace type. Now what could these idiots do to be kicked out of a backwater town like Ponyville? But still, a plan began to take form in her head. "And just why, Trixie wishes to know, did you get run out of town?"
Spike suppressed a growl. Now that the moment itself was over and he had time to think about it, it really made him mad. "Somepony... started a rumor, that I was eating ponies."
Trixie rubbed her chin, undeterred. "Do you?"
"Of course not!" Spike took a step forward, but Pip put a hoof on his side to calm him.
"Aha! Then Trixie knows what's going on. You don't want to return because you'll just be run off again, and your little friend here decided to stay on your side rather then Ponyville's, right?" Trixie's plan was all coming together now. She rubbed her hooves together, ready to drag them in.
Spike sighed. He really didn't want to talk about all this, he just wanted to take Pip and go find the nearest place they could both stay. "Yes, that's all correct, now can we just go-"
"Not so fast!" Trixie interrupted, sharply. "The fact still remains you messed up Trixie's spell. Therefore, to repay me for it, you and your friend are going to come work for me as my assistants." She had on that smug grin that Spike hated.
Spike couldn't help but laugh. "Ha! Like we're going to agree with that. Come on Pip-"
"Uh-uh!" Trixie interrupted once more, clicking her tongue. "I'm not done yet. Tell me Scale-Boy, where do you plan to go and what will you do there? Do you even have enough money to take care of the both of you for more than a day or two?"
Spike was silent. Of course he didn't, his money at the moment might be able to buy them food and lodging for two days at most. And that's assuming they found a place that wouldn't have a problem with a dragon and a guardian-less minor.
"That's what Trixie thought." She sat back on her haunches. "On the other hand, come with Trixie and do what I tell you to do, and you'll have a job that you'll get paid for. When you run away, Dragon, you need to find work once you get to your new home. And you are an underaged pony and a dragon that's been chased out of one town already. I am offering you just what you need on a silver platter." She was sure she had them right where she wanted. "I'll claim to be the guardian of your little friend there if it is needed. So what's it going to be, dragon? Come with Trixie and live, or go alone and die?"
Spike looked at Pip's worried face. He looked at Trixie's, triumph written all over it. Spike leaned down to Pip and whispered in his ear, "Pip... you know we could probably make it on our own..."
Pip shook his head. "I'm not sure I like the odds. Trixie can't be that bad can she?"
Spike thought back to the last time Trixie came to Ponyville. Corrupted by the Alicorn Amulet, she had conquered the city and driven Twilight out temporarily. Twilight had explained to him later that the wandering magician had been under the control of the amulet and had even come and given her a heartfelt apology soon after, but the Trixie in front of him was acting just like she always had. He trusted Twilight to tell the truth, but Trixie was worth being cautious about if she was put in any position of power, especially over him and Pip.
Spike shook his head. "I don't know Pip. She might be."
"Well... She's still telling the truth about work. And it's not like we couldn't just leave if we wanted, right?"
Spike paused. It was true, couldn't they just abandon her if they wanted or needed to? Still didn't make him happier about what he was going to say. "Fine, Trixie. We'll take your offer."
Trixie finally let the grin she had been holding back spread across her face in triumph. "Excellent... Then the first thing Trixie wishes for you to do is..."
"Knew this was going to happen. I just knew it." Spike said, adjusting the makeshift strap hitching him to Trixie's wagon. Trixie dismissed his complaint with a wave of her hoof, from the comfort of her wagon, of course.
"Less talking more pulling, dragon! Oh, that reminds me. We have not yet introduced ourselves. Of course, Trixie is certain you have heard of her, the traveling magician extraordinaire!" Trixie was leaning out of a window on the front of her wagon. Whether it was there as a standard on this model or Trixie had it put in so she could taunt anypony who happened to be pulling her was anypony's guess.
"My name's Spike. This is Pips-" he got cut off from telling Pip's full name by an elbow to the rib.
Trixie's eyebrows shot up. "Sp-Spike? You're that... you're Twilight's dragon?" She again lost all her haughty composure as Spike nodded. Without another word, Trixie ducked inside and slammed the window shut. Ah, peace.
And so for a while Spike and Pip were able to enjoy Trixie-less silence.
Stupid! Trixie sat on the floor leaned against her bed with her head in her hooves. That dragon had become unrecognizable- he was getting sharp and angular, his snout was growing out and he was so much taller. She had turned him into a basketball last time she had seen him, under the influence of that accursed amulet. She had felt much remorse for that, as with the others, once she had been tricked into taking it off. And now she was presented with a dilemma, she had already treated this dragon as she usually treated others, yet this was one of the individuals she had apologized to Twilight for mistreating. Was she supposed to treat him any differently? Did she have any kind of obligation because of her apology? She had only ever made up to Twilight, this dragon had every reason to hate her for her treatment of him and his friends but he barely seemed irritated. And she had pressed him and his friend into assisting her.
This was a new feeling for Trixie and she had no idea what was wrong with her.
"...The entire package of seeds. Scoots was in a lot of trouble!" Pip managed to finish his tale without breaking into laughter until the very end, joined by his scaly friend.
"Poor Scootaloo. What a tragic tale." Spike said in between giggles. "Hey, check it out Pip, a sign. Now we're getting somewhere."
They had been walking for some time now, hoping that going in one direction would lead them to civilization eventually. And now, thankfully, they had found a recently traveled path worn into the dirt, at the head of a fork in the road with a signpost set up to direct travelers. Pip read aloud, "Left, Talon Canyon. Right, Singer. Spike, what the heck's 'Singer'?"
Spike barely had time to shrug before Trixie's window slammed open, the Blue magician losing her composure yet another time. What was wrong with her today? "Singer!?" She shouted. "The city, Singer?" It had to be. The other sign lead to Talon Canyon. She knew exactly where they had turned up.
"Well, which way, boss?" Spike said, in a half growl.
"...Singer. Go to Singer." It wasn't like she had much choice. It had been seven in the evening when they teleported, but it was high noon right now. And if turned and went back, it would be sundown again before they reached the next settlement. As it was they might only have the time to make a performance and get a hotel. And she still had feeding a carnivore to worry about. If they didn't have a Griffon market in Singer she was going to scream.
Trixie pressed a hoof to her head. She was so off today... But she couldn't let it get to her. She already knew what tonight's show was going to be like and with this dragon working for her she stood a chance of putting a few butts in the seats, assuming he could follow orders.
Singer was not the city Spike was expecting. The name conjured images of a peaceful, quiet little town like Ponyville, someplace where Trixie could easily wow the residents and earn a few bits and some applause before they hit the road. Not this.
Singer loomed ahead, a huge, gray city of tall buildings of concrete, smooth paved roads and dark alleys. As they approached, ponies could be seen walking- not like they did in Ponyville, heads up and wearing friendly smiles, chatting back and forth with anypony they ran into. These ponies didn't spare a second glance for anypony. They wore no expression at all in most cases, only here being caught while they traveled from one place of business to the next. The working environment here was far different from Ponyville- It was a different kind of labor that was undertaken in a place like this. How it got to be called "Singer" was beyond Spike. And yet, he could already see how Trixie's performance could stand a chance in an environment like this...
The little wagon continued on it's way through the streets, with Trixie guiding after having obtained a map. They barely got much more then a second glance as the Trixie directed them to the square, which confused Spike. Wasn't he supposed to draw stares? These ponies look like they saw dragon-pulled wagons everyday! Even in the town square everypony just kept on their way.
Trixie hopped out of the wagon once they had positioned her out of the way where she could make preparations in peace. Both boys stood by, knowing they probably had another job to do still. It was a tense few moments as Trixie dug in a small chest for something, eventually coming up with two tall stacks of fliers, a photo of her and a few splashes of text describing how wonderful her show is, and a big blank spot at the bottom. Her horn glowed as they took them and a place and time appeared in the space on the flier Spike was holding.
"Now," Trixie began, "Take those and don't come back until they're gone. Hoof them out,, hang them on walls, do whatever you need to to get them seen. And do it quickly! It's only five hours to the show. I'll handle setting up here." Trixie sat looking proud of herself for a second, but when they didn't leave right away she got impatient. "Go!"
"I don't like this place, Pip."
"Me either, but why don't you like it?"
Spike smoothed down the edges of a flier he just pasted to the inside wall of an alleyway, just before they headed for the next one. "The ponies are just weird here. When I was pulling Trixie's wagon, none of them paid any mind. It was like dragons just pull wagons all the time, everyday. But when we were walking out here, I was getting dirty looks left and right. And now that we're hanging up the posters... They're back to paying no attention."
Pip glanced around. Across the street, they got a glance now and then, but nopony spared a second glance. It was just like Spike had said, they didn't mind. It was completely different from the reactions he expected... but not unwelcome, he guessed. It was better then getting run out again.
Pip opened his mouth but Spike held up a claw for quiet. "Sh, do you hear that?" As he indicated down the alley.
Pip listened. It did sound kind of like... voices. They crept down the alley, backs against the brick wall, standing just before a corner where they could hear clearly.
"You're a loooong way from your friends now, kid. I hope you've got the money on your own to pay for the fee." It was a gruff voice, and instantly told Spike just what was going on in this alley.
"I don't have any money with me... I don't carry it cause I know it'll just get stolen by ponies like you anyway!" The voice was wavering- afraid, but trying hard to present a strong face to it's owner's aggressor. Unfortunately, that wasn't working.
A different voice spoke up. "Yeah yeah, I'm sure. Listen, those who don't make their contribution get turned into examples, kid. Now decide, is your money or your life more important?" Spike and Pip had heard enough.
Pip rounded the corner faster then Spike and the dragon only got a second to see a pony get bucked against the wall, knocked out instantly on contact with concrete. Spike quickly took in the scene. Pip had kicked a unicorn against the wall, but his partner, an older looking Earth Pony, was still standing, a look of half panic in his eye as he aimed a crossbow at the more intimidating looking of the pair of would-be rescuers. And their victim? A Griffon of all things, the poor guy looked terrified, squished against a wall trying to make himself as small as he could, looking for a way out.
Spike carefully monitored his breathing for a second to control himself with a crossbow pointed at his head. The stallion steeled himself as well, willing fear out of his eyes. "I ain't afraid to kill, kid. It won't be my first time." The Earth Stallion threatened, aiming for the face. But he hesitated, not firing yet.
"Go on and shoot." Spike dared. The stallion took a step back. Spike inhaled and lunged, earning a shout of fear from the cornered mugger and an arrow flying at his face. Spike quickly puffed out a plume of green flame, engulfing the arrow just before it met it's target.
A searing blast of pain forced the armed mugger to the ground with a scream of pain and shock as his right front leg gave out, an arrow embedded deep in the back of his forearm. It was even still smoking a bit.
Spike suppressed a grimace at his work. He forced himself to grin and said "Get that to a hospital fast enough and it might not even get infected."
"Jazz, out!" The stallion shouted at his partner, who jumped up from faking unconsciousness and joined his partner in running for the chain fence at the end of the alley, phasing through it with the help of some of "Jazz's" magic.
"Shouldn't we go after them!?" Pip shouted, looking like he was raring to climb over that fence and give chase, but Spike stopped him.
"Nah, Pip. We aren't the police. They're gone, and that's what we wanted." He turned his attention to the Griffon. "You okay?"
"Yeah..." The griffon replied, barely above a whisper. He stood up shakily, and then grabbed Spike in a hug. "I am so glad to see you here! I was thinking there weren't any 'Diamonds' around..." The griffon continued.
"Uh... Diamonds?" Spike said, confused, hesitantly patting the griffon on the back, who pulled away immediately and stared at him. "What do you mean by Diamonds?"
The griffon blinked. "You're not from around here, are you?" Spike and Pip shook their heads. "Then you've gotta get out of here as fast as you can!" The outburst made them both back up a step. This just got weirder and weirder.
"Slow down! Why do I need to get out of here?" Spike said in a quieter voice, hoping to calm him down and get a straight answer out of him.
"Because now you've hurt a member of the mob... they're going to be after you now. Lizards and griffons aren't welcome in this city unless they're laborers or servants. If you actually live here, you've gotta pay protection money." The griffon's voice got higher and higher, and he started breathing faster as he continued getting worked up over his explanation.
Spike put his hands up and stopped him. "Okay, okay... first off, I'm not a 'lizard', I'm a dragon. And second off, you still didn't explain what a Diamond is."
The griffon blanched and stammered. "I, uh, I said too much. Gotta go!" And he backed up a step and flew away, rather then going back out the alley.
Pip and Spike were left in stunned silence at the events of the last five minutes. "Is that why nobody paid attention to you while you were working?" Pip asked Spike after about thirty seconds of trying to absorb it all.
Spike blinked. "It might be. Speaking of work... Trixie's show starts in three hours, we gotta get back to putting up those signs!"
"This is degrading."
"Quiet, Dragon-boy, when I'm working. Or do you just want to be fired?"
"No ma'am."
"Good boy."
Trixie sized up her front view and profile of Spike's head, adjusting one of the fake horns stuck to it just slightly. "There, finished. Well, my little dragon, you clean up nice. A lesser pony then Trixie would be terrified of your frightful visage."
Spike found that hard to believe. He had fake horns glued to his head, and wings stuck to his back. Made of leather, with wooden bones, Spike had just about laughed when Trixie got them out. The color didn't even match. But a whap on the nose shut him up long enough for her to stick them to his back, and her magic had turned them into a green and purple pair of wings he could even move by thought. He had to admit, a setup like this was impressive and seamless, but it struck him as unnecessary.
"Nopony will believe you're a dragon without wings and horns." Trixie had explained to him. "Trixie needs this to be impressive! So don't let them know you can speak, and follow my cues. Even the stupidest, scaly runt of a dragon could do this right."
And when you made it a choice between eating and not eating...
Pip pulled a rope that triggered Trixie's stage unfolding, and hit the switches to the fireworks display. From behind the curtains, Spike waited while Trixie broadcasted her introduction. He peeked through the curtain, hoping to get a glance at the audience.
He couldn't believe it, they were watching awestruck. Certainly Trixie couldn't be that entertaining... But Spike didn't have time to think on it any further, as Trixie clapped her hooves together to "summon her newly tamed dragon."
Spike pushed through the curtains on all fours with his nose and tried his best to look like an animal while Trixie boasted of having bested this beast in combat with her formidable magic and earned his loyalty through her strength.
"At least she didn't call me an 'it' like they did in Ponyville..." Spike thought, with more then a little bitterness.
The rest of the show went as Spike expected. He opened his mouth to demonstrate that Trixie could hold her head in his mouth without fear, he was loosed from "shackles" that hadn't been attached to anything to begin with, but stayed where he was rather then flee, and he even lit a cigar for a stallion in the front row after Trixie demanded it from him. All the while the crowed murmured, shouted in fright and applauded the performance. As the curtain fell on Spike and Trixie, it struck him just how easily entertained these ponies were... and how all of them had actually paid to see this.
"Seven hundred and thirty-six bits. Not bad at all, gentlecolts." Trixie said, a table set up beneath them and the money counted out into three shares. Hers just bigger then the others in such a way you'd have to count to know.
After Spike got off stage, Trixie accepted a few challenges from some ponies that bet they could best her, and signed autographs for a few foals. It was now well past sundown and it was getting kind of late. Trixie and Pip were inside of the tiny living quarters of Trixie's wagon, and Spike was sticking his head in through the window. Trixie slammed her hooves onto the table. Pip scooped the three portions into bags as Trixie glanced at the rising moon.
"Alright Dragon," She said, pausing for Spike's attention. "Hitch up, and take us to the hotel. Trixie shall guide you once more."
Trixie strolled into the lobby of her chosen hotel, glancing around, examining the design. Hm, yes. It would have to do. It's not, of course, as if any hotel could properly contain her majesty but we all must make sacrifices. So she approached the desk with her two young employees following behind her. Ringing the bell despite the stallion behind the desk already there, she wordlessly set a bag of their earnings on the counter. "Now, make that two rooms, please. One for me, and one for my assistants. And be quick, it's been a long day." Trixie rested her head on her hoof, offering a smile to him. Trixie could turn on the charm when Trixie pleased.
The eyes of the stallion working the desk looked over the two ponies, but shook his head. "Might wanna make that one room, lady. We don't serve scalies." He pointed at Spike and went to fetch a room key.
Spike had kind of expected it to happen, and wasn't too disappointed, to his credit. He turned and went back outside calmly.
Pip glanced back and forth at Trixie and Spike. He didn't like the idea of sleeping outside. But... he couldn't just let his friend go out there alone, could he? Trixie continued to look ahead, waiting for the stallion at the front desk to return with their key.
"Here it is, your room in number 106, and I'll be taking-" Trixie zipped the bag of money away from his hooves just as he went to grab it, waiting just long enough for him to see the glint of gold in the bag before snatching it away.
"I'm afraid not." Trixie said, with a dangerous tone to her voice. "I, Trrrixie, do not accept anypony treating my employees in this way." Replacing the bag in one of Pip's saddlebags, she pointed him out the door and marched out herself, not dignifying the establishment behind them another look.
Pip ran after her, stopping in the door to point an up-turned hoof at the clerk and ran back out.
Spike was just settling down. He had found a nice hill outside town, with a rock to rest his head on. He did his best to get comfortable, but rocks just weren't for him, he decided. Pushing it out of the way, he laid his head back on the ground and shut his eyes, listening to the insect song and hoping he'll get to sleep soon.
A quilt was laid across him. Opening his eyes, Trixie and Pip stood there, holding pillows and blankets.
Trixie spat out a pillow. "Don't get any ideas, Dragon. Trixie will have you know I am only out here as an expression of solidarity. I may not be the most humble pony you've met, but I do not stand for ponies mistreating my employees."
Pip was already setting up a campfire place. "Camping out again, just like three months ago! Sound fun Spike?"
Spike sat up and looked back and forth between his younger friend and his new boss. Today was a long day... but as far as days involving running away from your home country went, it was going pretty well.
Once they settled down, Spike and Pip were out like a light. Today had lasted 31 hours and it all caught up to them now.
Trixie's wagon, which she had pulled back herself, still had its light on.
Trixie couldn't go to bed just yet, even a exhausted as she was. The day had been much longer then normal, thanks to the teleport spell gone awry. But before she could rest, she had to complete her final task in the day. After double checking all the windows to make sure they were shut, she opened a drawer under her single bed, pulling out an unmarked, light blue book. There was a magical seal on it, and the book could only open if she willed it. She turned it to the next blank page and picked up her pen.
05/15/09
Today has been very long, and the entry will have to be brief. I was trying to teleport to Manechester, but a pair of kids stumbled upon me at the just the worst time and messed up the spell. It took me a while to find out where we ended up, but we are in Macelon. We ended up on the edge of the Southern Island, it seems, and traveled to the city of Singer. I hired both of the kids that interrupted me, making them help because they ruined my spell, and managed to put on a show shortly after arriving, which earned enough money to pay the bills for a short time. The kids are Pip, a pinto colored Earth Pony colt of fifteen years, and Spike, a young wingless dragon. He is, or was, Twilight Sparkle's assistant.
I am determined to try and keep these two assistants with me this time. It's been a long five years on the road without any companionship that lasted more then a few hours. I just wish that wasn't the same thing I said last time I hired somepony.
-The Great and Powerful Trixie
Author's Note
Trixie, I've noted, speaks in a pattern of referring to herself in the third person first, then in first person until she stops speaking, with some exceptions. Still kind of annoying to write for, even with that rule in mind. Editing is the most annoying part of writing for sure. If nothing is wrong for a paragraph or two, I get worried about what I'm obviously missing.
