Like a missile, I sped through Ponyville with a bounce in my step. A bag bounced on my back similar to when I ride on top of Twilight. It slapped me in the rear over and over with little attention from me. I ran fast and didn't care. I swerved through crowds of ponies, brushing past the lot with as much care as I could muster... so, I practically slammed into others.
"Spike! Slow down, wait for me!" Twilight's voice shouted out far behind.
Ignoring her, I hopped over ponies like an athlete using my new found abilities. My height had increased since I was last in Ponyville, and now I felt like a brazen athletic star. Twilight and I brought the rest of the gang on a vacation. After several tragic incidents beforehand, the break was exactly what we needed. I figured I could spend my time with Rarity, doing every request she had... but there was none. The week before we left, I remember a kiss with her, but nothing more. Trying to prod for anything else hurt my head, but the kiss was all I cared about.
Whenever I offered to do something for her, she refused, merely wishing my company. We sat next to each other, ate the exotic foods, took pictures, and kissed now and then. It was perfect; spending time with her, but something was odd. Like the rest of the gang, even Twilight, she acted nervous whenever we came up to a history lesson that involved any death of some kind. They always insisted that it was boring and not worth my time, but I pressed on. It was interesting learning the more violent aspects of history; that of which we do not know dooms us to repeat history.
Every now and then, I would wake up before the others, and gently try to wake them up too. Small tent made the process a lot easier than I thought, yet sometimes they would jolt awake. Maybe they had a bad dream, but sometimes, they'd look at me and shriek before I calmed them down. I don't blame them; I've done that twice on the trip. I was in a mysterious homeland that was very savannah-like. Who knows what could have infiltrated our tent? But... this happened for them every time I attempted to wake them up. I'd ask about it, but I merely chalked it up to paranoia of a foreign land.
My body had grown to the same height as Twilight and my muscle mass developed from my grunt work to a point where I looked more like a dragon warrior. Spike the Knight... I like the sound of that. Even if the world turned against my mother, I'd be her knight until the very bitter end. Which is exactly why I left her behind; gotta check the library for danger before mother gets there.
I practically burst through the front door of the Golden Oaks Library. It startled the hay out of the temporary librarian, causing her to shriek. I landed on all fours, and she spotted me with my feral gaze. She tensed up before falling backwards, unconscious. I looked down, chuckling sheepishly.
"Oops."
[*][*][*]
"I apologize, Mrs. Oaks. Spike was just a little too eager to return home," Twilight said, levitating several papers into a stack.
"It's fine, Twilight Sparkle. I was expecting you any day, but Spike's grown. I wasn't used to it," Mrs. Oaks responded, walking towards the front door.
"The little guy isn't so little anymore, and he knows it. He's been using his height to his advantage a lot," Twilight said as she placed the papers into a folder, then placed the folder in her bag.
Twilight shot a glance toward me as I organized several books she bought on our vacation. Herb books, cook books, magick books, and she even found a study on dragons. It helped her spot several signs about my growth, and I felt nothing but pride as she explained, in great detail, how the dragons have much stronger structuring than ponies. I flexed my muscular form as I set books on shelves while Twilight conversed with the other librarian.
Mrs. Oaks was the previous librarian who wanted to retire. She got a vacation when Twilight came to check on the Summer Sun Celebration's preparations, and got an even luckier break when Twilight stayed to investigate friendship; Mrs. Oaks was done as a librarian. Even if the elder mare was glad to finally retire, she had no objections to watch the library while Twilight, the gang, and I went on vacation.
I finished putting away the new books just as Twilight showed Mrs. Oaks to the door. She left with a smile, and Twilight closed the door with relief.
"I'm so~ glad to be back home, Spike," she said, stumbling towards a stool and slumping down into it.
I stumbled towards the stool, and fell down in front of her. "You said it, mom."
We both groaned at the same time, exhaling as they stretched out. Twilight laid there for a few seconds before groaning again, rolling off the stool. She staggered around before standing tall and walking towards the stairs. I turned my head up just as she began walking upstairs.
"Mom, where are you going?" I asked, cracking my back as I twisted.
"I want to lay down in my own bed. A sleeping bag on various rocks and dirt for a month warrants that Twilight Sparkle and her son pass out on a proper bed," she said, fumbling with the door to her room.
I rolled onto my front, grunting as I strained myself. "Proper bed? I live in a basket that's probably too small for me now."
"Hmm, that is true. We'll have to get you a new bed then. We could share a bed until I do," Twilight shouted.
Sighing, I followed Twilight upstairs into the room. Our bedroom has dust on the shelves and some in the air. Magic sounded and a window opened. The clean breeze refreshed the room causing both Twilight and I to stop and sniff the clean air. Her horn was still lit as she lifted her blankets off her bed, shaking the dust off of it. A spark shot off her horn, and a scent reminiscent of 'rocky spring' candles flooded the room, washing out the fresh scent. I frowned at the loss, but shrugged. Twilight was merely cleansing her blankets.
I turned my head, looking at the small basket that I slept in before. Once more, I felt a nagging feeling in my head. I squinted my eyes, tapping my head as I attempted to process something I clearly never had. Twilight turned to me and I clenched my eyes shut, gritting my teeth as I attempted to remember what happened.
I quickly felt forelegs wrap around me and my body lost the tense feeling. I opened my eyes and saw Twilight hugging me, and I completely forgot about what I was doing. I simply hugged her back, smiling as we nuzzled cheeks.
"Mmm, you've grown so much since I hatched you," she said while caressing my spines.
"You have too, mom," I responded.
She giggled followed by me. I sighed, and we released each other from the embrace. She reached up and patted my head, and walked over to her bed. She didn't even bother sliding under the blankets and fell onto the soft top. I shrugged, walked over towards the bed, kicked my basket to the side and fell down next to Twilight. We were both sprawled over the width of the bed, yet didn't care.
I glanced behind me through the exhaustion towards the direction of my bed. I felt the nagging feeling, but I shut it out in favour of relaxation. I plopped my head down to see Twilight snoring on her bed, and I sighed. Pretty soon, I fell asleep.
[*][*][*]
When I woke up, both Twilight and I coincidentally woke up at our schedule from when we were here before. I got up and stumbled downstairs after resting too long. The sun was just rising and it was really showing the nature of fall. I cracked open the window in the kitchen to allow that smokey fall scent invade the room. Like a gas, it spread out to the entire area, and I almost passed out from the neat sensations before pulling myself together.
I slapped together a breakfast of simple pancakes since that was one of the few things that didn't spoil and didn't take hours to make. After it was finished, I walked to the front door, opened it up, and picked up the Equestria Daily while mindlessly waving to Derpy whom I know just dropped it off. I passed by the stack of EQD's that we placed by the door, walking back to the kitchen the same time Twilight sat down and did the same, flipping open the newspaper, and scanning the top:
MARKET HARVEST PREPARATIONS IN FULL SWING
"Well, nothing exciting happened while we were gone," I chortled, slapping the paper onto the tabletop.
Twilight giggled nervously as I sank my fork into the plate. I scarfed them down in record time, gladly savouring the taste of familiar food. No more berries and bugs for this dragon! Looking up, Twilight hadn't touched her pancakes at all other than a small nibble out of the top layer. She had a dazed stare into nothing, her mind clearly absent. I reached a hand forward, snapping my claws in front of her face. She snapped to attention and looked up at me.
"You kinda dazed off there," I said, licking syrup off my plate.
She waved her hoof, apologized, then began eating the pancakes at a steady pace. I shrugged and continued eating. I turned my head towards the Equestria Daily, frowning. I looked over to a stack of recent issues read before we left, and pulled out seven; the last seven before we left on the vacation. Twilight stood up, levitating both plates over to the counter.
"Oh, I'm not done yet, mom. I made extra," I responded.
She nodded, setting the plate on the counter anyways. Dropping her dish in the sink, she turned the water on and washed it with magic while stacking several other pancakes on my plate. I flipped the issues over, all addressing the same topic: death. It mentions that a stallion known as Blue Star was murdered the same night Rarity's boutique was robbed. There was sightings of a rampaging beast, so that indicated that an Everfree creature left the forest. Looking up at mom, I decided to ask her.
"Mom, a week before we left, was it an Everfree creature that killed that stallion, Blue Star? Was Blue Star involved in the break in at the Carousel Boutique?" I asked, showing her the issue in general.
Twilight spun around, shaking her head frantically. "Spike, no. I also don't want you to pay attention to that stuff. You shouldn't worry about it for another twenty years," she replied, slapping the plate of pancakes in front of me.
"But-" She cuts me off by shoving a pancake in my mouth. I shrug and merrily tear the flap with my teeth, feeling the syrup sticking my lips every bite. Twilight quickly sits down, levitating all issues of Equestria Daily to her side and began reading them all at the same time. I raised an eyebrow, swallowed a chunk of pancake, and asked for one.
"No, focus on the issue you have already," she said while blindly pointing to the newspaper delivered today.
I sigh, rolling my eyes, and begin reading the rest of the article.
[*][*][*]
I skipped my way to the Carousel Boutique like a dainty butterfly. I whistled to myself, hearing several congratulations and shouts from others as I thought of Rarity. I skidded to a halt in front of the boutique and rapped on the door.
"Just a min~ute!" Rarity's angelic voice sang through the walls.
Sighing blissfully, I leaned against the door frame. I looked outside the boutique, spotting the street in front of it. It nagged at my mind like when I look at my bed... as if I forgot something important. I completely missed the door opening and Rarity calling my name, tapping my head as I tried to provoke my mind to reveal its secret.
"Darling, are you alright?" she asked nervously from behind.
I look at the street for a few more seconds before shaking my head, turning to Rarity. "Yeah, I am. Just zoned out."
She almost said something, stopping short of a phrase and smiling at me. "Alright. Please come and make yourself at home, I am writing a letter right now."
Entering the building, I closed the door behind me and shuffled over to a couch, plopping down on it as I took in the room.
"Renovations look very nice as well as welcoming, especially after sitting in a tent for one month," I exclaim, rocking back and forth on the cushions.
"Thank you, dear. I was quite pleased myself. I figured after the... ah, break in, that I could redecorate the whole building. Only mine and Sweetie Belle's room remained untouched," she said from another room.
I open my mouth, but stop. Should I ask? I thought, looking around. I bit my lip, closing my eyes as I processed the question. Sighing, I look over to the other room.
"Rarity, I was thinking and it's fine if you don't answer, but that fellow that was killed, Blue Star. Did he break into your boutique?"
I heard something drop followed by quick hoofsteps as Rarity ran into the room and looked at me. Her expression was hard to read, but it looked like she was holding back a scared look. Her brow twitched upwards as she shook her head at me.
"No, he did not. They were two separate incidents," she said quietly, sitting down next to me.
I frowned, looking down at the floor before back to her. "Well, who di-"
"Well, Spikey, I believe we must head to Sweet Apple Acres for a bushel of apples. Sweetie Belle will be visiting tomorrow and she enjoys that apple peanut butter," she responded, levitating a mirror to her face and looking into it.
Sighing in defeat, I leaned to the side, resting my head against hers. "Alright, but could we wait a minute or two? I have a slight headache."
"Alright, dear," she responded while leaning into me.
[*][*][*]
We skipped towards Sweet Apple Acres with little regard for the rest of the world. I happily beamed my bliss to the world, but unknown to me, Rarity's smile was truly half-assed. Her mouth was shaped in a crescent while her eyes could be mistaken for lost in bliss; she was merely zoned out while I led her towards the farm.
We passed by several areas that gave me that familiar nagging feeling. I never once felt it on the vacation... was Rarity feeling it too? Looking to the side, I spotted a trail leading into the Everfree Forest. Both Rarity and I looked, and our walk slowed down to a stop. We both stared for several seconds before Rarity realized what she was doing. She moved and looked at me while I continued staring.
"Spike, let's go," Rarity said, tugging on my arm.
I snapped to attention and looked down at her. Her eyes had an almost pleading look... and I didn't know why. Her expression seemed to beg, and I felt guilty for reasons unknown. I just felt bad that she was in this state, and I leaned forward, hugging her. I just needed a reason not to stare at this face. It gave me a terrible feeling, and I caressed her head.
"I'm sorry, you're right. We should or we'll never get there," I said, as I released her from my embrace.
We quickly left the area as well as inner Ponyville. We trekked the dirt path where I noticed Rarity's expression... joyful. Looking at her, she wore a bright smile as we walked towards the acres. Her smile was enough to brighten up my day.
Hay, it'd even be something I'd kill for.
Walking through the apple arch, we strolled into Sweet Apple Acres brimming with glee. It wasn't long before Apple Bloom zipped out of the house towards us. She ran like a bunny, leaping with such glee and enjoyment into the air. She slapped into Rarity and I, hugging us tightly.
"Hey you guys, Ah was wonderin' if y'all f'got 'bout me! Ah've already seen th' others," Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"No, mother and I simply fell asleep the instant we got home. I dunno about Rarity," I responded.
She gently set Apple Bloom on the ground, patting her on the head. "I simply had business to attend to, same as today. Sweetie Belle will be coming over tomorrow, so we have time to catch up then, Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom pouted at us both. "Aww, you sure?"
"Sorry, we're only here for apples, Bloom," I responded, looking around. "Speaking of which, where is your sister?"
"Workin' hard. She missed a month o' work, so she feels she has t' make up f' it. She's already bucked half th' orchard since she got back... only five days t' Applebuck season too," she said, trotting back towards the house.
I looked up to the orchard, smiling. "Well, she'd definitely have apples to spare."
Rarity nodded and we both walked into the orchards, hearing the sound of steady bucking coming from somewhere. We looked back and forth through the trees, hearing the steady rapping against wood. Finally, we spotted her in the orchards, bucking trees faster than normal. In the time span of ten seconds, she bucked seven trees. We jogged towards her position.
"Appleja~ck, may we borrow some of your time?" Rarity called out.
Applejack didn't stop bucking. "Jus'-" She bucked another tree. "Spit-" She ran over, bucking another. "It out!" She slapped her backhooves into another tree.
Rarity and I glanced at each other nervously before clearing our throats. "Well, we are here to acquire some apples. Because them apples are tasty," I said, shrugging.
Applejack grunted as she switched to another tree. "Go f' it," she spat out. "Take a bushel with ya, no charge!"
Shrugging, I skipped over to one of the buckets she just filled, lifting it up. I held it under one arm with ease. I smirked as I turned towards Rarity, raising an eyebrow while flexing my other arm. She giggled, swatting her hoof at me.
"Sorry, still getting used to the new and improved Spike," she said as I walked over to her.
"See you, Applejack!" I shouted back.
A shout from behind was all the confirmation we needed before leaving Applejack to her work. We walked back into the front yard of the acres just as Big Macintosh walked out of the barn. Rarity glanced at him a second longer to my liking, but I didn't make a fuss. Instead, I looked at him with a curious glance of my own, looking down to Rarity.
"I'm sorry, but I need to stay for bit. I'll bring the apples with me," I said, looking at Big Macintosh.
"Oh... um, alright dear," Rarity responded. She stepped up and kissed me on the cheek. "See you later."
Waving as I heard her hoofsteps, I walked towards Big Macintosh while he walked towards a shed. The acres scent blew by my nose in the breeze, and Big Macintosh turned his head, sniffing the air. As he did, he spotted me out of the corner of his eye and turned to me.
"Howdy," he said nonchalantly as he opened up the doors.
I waved, walking up to him. "Big Mac, I have a question... or two," I said.
He nodded, stepping into the shed. He picked up several tool boxes, setting them on various shelves before seeing one box. He nodded, picked it up, and carried it out of the shed. I gulped, wondering how to ask this. Big Macintosh trotted into the orchards, towards the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse. He glanced back a few times, spotting me lost in thought or fumbling with words. Finally we reached the Crusader clubhouse.
On the ramp leading to the door, there was a broken plank. He picked up a nail, setting it in place with a light tap of his hoof. After he picked up a hammer, and I decided to speak up.
"About the most recent deaths in Ponyville..."
He stopped moving just before he slapped the hammer down on the nail. He slowly turned to me, and as usual, his expression was unchanged... but something definitely seemed off. It's as if the atmosphere just changed into a tragic one.
I felt somebody touch my shoulder and I turned around to see them, only to see nothing. Confused, I scanned the area quickly before gulping and looking back up to Big Macintosh.
"So, um, I read in the newspaper that somepony suspected the deaths to be murders, and I was wondering if you knew anything about them," I replied nervously.
His eyes closed, and he sighed. "Eenope."
Oddly enough, his rejection of the topic wasn't a plain 'eenope.' It was more like he had to think about his answer, or maybe death was just an uneasy topic. I shook my head, then looked back up to him.
"Do you know what happened the night Rarity's house was broken into?" I asked next.
Hesitating a second time, he shook his head, a little more frantically. I raised an eyebrow but brushed it off. I looked down at the apples, and thought back to the incident with the deaths. I hadn't seen Applejack that often during the time span the Deaths had occurred. I bit my lip, feeling a nervous wave wash over me. My head hurt every time I tried to process memories that clearly weren't there as if I somehow knew the truth at some point. I looked up to Big Macintosh, and sighed.
"During the time the deaths occurred, Applejack was gone a lot. Do you think she could have done it?" I asked, trailing off near the end.
I don't think I saw Big Macintosh ever move so fast. In a split-second, the hammer dropped from his mouth. I watched it fall, not even paying attention to Big Macintosh as he spun around and then I was in a world of pain. He ferociously bucked me in the chest, and I launched. I dropped the bushel of apples onto the grassy ground while I soared back five feet with no air in my lungs. I slammed into the ground, and started coughing, only realizing then that I was in pain.
I rolled over onto my side, closing my eyes to focus on the pain. I felt it nearly impossible to catch my breath as I coughed hard. Curling up into a ball was the only thing I could do while I attempted to stop. Hearing hoofsteps snapped me to attention and I rolled onto my front, struggling to push myself up to my feet. I was in a keeling position when Big Macintosh pushed me up against a tree, sending pain throughout my stomach once more.
"If you ever say that again, Miss Twilight will be out an assistant. Make m'self clear?" Big Macintosh growled at me.
I opened my eyes after the stinging subsided the best it could before Big Macintosh put more force against me. I shouted in pain, looking at the sky as he did.
"AUGH, YES! CLEAR AS WATER!" I shouted.
He released me, and I dropped to the ground, coughing once more. I clenched my belly, rubbing it while attempting to sooth the pain. The steady beating of a hammer sounded as I faced the grass. Damn, he's got a hard buck. Messing with him isn't a smart idea... at least until I've grown a few more feet. I looked over to the apples strewn about before scurrying to pick them up. Big Macintosh glanced at me before he continued hammering.
Picking up the bucket, picking up the apples, placing apples into the bucket, and standing up. I made sure I had a grip through my pain, and I looked back to the stallion as he worked. I started limping away, turning ahead.
"Have a nice day, Mr. Macintosh," I spat out with a groan.
[*][*][*]
Rarity's house has a lovely theme when I stare at it with an open mind. A carousel; ponies going in circles like the cycle of life. Flowing and elegant as well as deep. Life is a great thing, and I had accused Applejack of taking others. I felt guilt stab me in the gut over and over again, and stumbled through Rarity's front door. I sighed, slapped the bushel on the table in her kitchen, and slumped into a chair.
"I'm so sorry, Applejack," I muttered into my arms.
"Why are you sorry?" Rarity's voice spoke out.
I snapped back, staring at Rarity. I opened my mouth to speak before coughing, still feeling the pain in my gut from the buck. Rarity quickly caressed my back while I coughed, and eventually I stopped. I looked up to face her, and bit my lip.
"I, uh, asked Big Macintosh if Applejack was involved with the deaths," I said solemnly.
Looking up, Rarity's face was wide eyed, jaw dropped, seen-a-ghost appalled. She raised a hoof and motioned to slap me. I closed my eyes, awaiting the hit, but nothing came. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw she put her hoof down and was staring at me with a disappointed glare. I knew she didn't like what I did, and it only added to my guilt.
"I am so, so sorry. I just wanted to know," I said, looking down at my claws.
"Spike, these subjects are something you shouldn't bother yourself with. Leave it to the police," Rarity responded softly. I looked up at her with pleading eyes and tried to speak, cut off by her. "I know your mind wants to understand it, but you shouldn't delve into such things. It's better not to think about such a dark and dreary subject when you can frolic with friends and family."
I shook my head, resisting the urge to slap the desk. I felt like she was hiding something. "Don't lie to me, please. I know that the incident with Blue Star and the break in is connected, he was your old classmate. Something happened, I just know it!" I said, standing up.
Sighing, Rarity pointed to the door. "Spike, go."
My mind was hit with sadness, and I felt myself stammering. My lips twitched, and I looked around, then back to Rarity. She had steely eyes and a stern expression, one that drove itself deep into my conscious.
"But, I'm sorry, I j-"
"Go."
My arms trembled, and I felt my lips puckering. My eyes were stung with tears, and I looked at her. "Rarity, I lo-"
"Spike, get out of my house! We can talk when you've decided to stop this foolish obsession but until then, you are not to set foot in my boutique again!" she declared.
Defeated, I shook my head and slammed a fist against the table. The table flipped over along with the apples much to Rarity's surprise. I walked at a fast pace, nearly bumping Rarity as I made my way to the door. Throwing it open, I looked back at her without covering my tears, seeing her expression; it was teary, but not streaming as well as angered. Why was she getting so emotional over this? She practically dumped me because I was confused. Attempting to shout back, I opened my mouth before realizing I had nothing to say. I clenched my teeth shut, walked outside, and slammed the door.
Speed walking away from the boutique was step one. Step two was Celestia knows what. I felt betrayed as if she lied to me and insulted me. The tears on my face now had two sources; guilt from my accusation of Applejack as well as Rarity's choice. I stomped my way to the park, leaving several imprints in the loose dust.
The park itself was unchanged; grassy hills, grand tree, small lake, and a bench. I stumbled into the park in depression before slumping down onto a bench near the lake. Several kids ran around playing, oblivious to my own pain. That's how the world worked. If you're in pain, tough shit. The world revolves in a way that it can disregard the life of one person easily.
Rolling over, I looked up at the sky from lying down on the bench. It was clear with several large clouds flying high above. A rainbow trail zipped around, obviously Rainbow Dash. I followed the cyan blur with my eyes for a few minutes before feeling my tears subside. I only felt guilt and regret now... I ruined my entire day, and maybe even my life.
Hearing a rustling sound in the bushes behind the bench, I rolled onto my side and spotted several things had slipped through the bench. Somepony who previously sat must have lost it. I reached into the bush and pulled out three things; two receipts from the bookstore, and a purple book. It was thin, had nothing on it's back or it's spine while the cover had no title, but a line stating the owner:
THIS NOTEBOOK IS PROPERTY OF TWILIGHT SPARKLE.
"Huh, Twilight dropped this," I said. I looked at the cover, and halfway down, a description written in Twilight's handwriting was present. I began reading it. "'A study on paranormal activity; this is confidential and should not be tampered with. If found, please direct it to Golden Oaks Library and return it to the owner. If Twilight Sparkle is unavailable, please deliver it to Spike the Dragon.'"
"'Deaths have been occurring recently and I fear for anybody who attempts to comprehend what is written here. I cannot stress danger enough. I do not wish to panic anybody who may find this if lost, but this is important and must be taken care of.'"
I leaned back on the bench, losing the receipts to the wind. I stared at the cover, running my finger over the letters and few coffee stains. I felt my mind forgetting the pain of the past day, and gasped. Something was going on, I just knew it. My friends are trying to hide it from me to... protect me? No, to forget history is to repeat it in the future. Ignorance leads to mistakes. I looked at the cover with determination.
I'm going to discover the truth about recent deaths if it's the last thing I do!