Poison Joke (Toxicodendron risus)

Found almost exclusively in the Everfree Forest, this plant is easily identified by its bright blue leaves and flowers. Though it falls in the same genus as the more common Poison ivy, Poison oak, and Poison sumac, it is notable for not necessarily causing a rash in those affected by it.

Thanks to the abundant wild magic of the Everfree Forest, Poison joke instead causes strange transformations in almost any living creature that comes in contact with its leaves, flowers, or pollen. The changes are different for each subject, but always seem to be meant to humiliate the victim in someway. Often taking a physical attribute they're proud of and inverting it, or changing them to a form that they'd find embarrassing.

CRACK

Crunch, crunch...

Twilight wiped a few crystal flecks from her mouth before reaching for her quill again. Her tail wagged idly as she enjoyed the excuse to stretch, foot claws digging a bit into the cushion she was laying on. Snatching up the quill, the young dragoness could barely suppress a giggle.

"So..., Trixie wanted attention and the Poison joke made her invisible..." she muttered as she jotted down a few notes. "And Spike got younger because he kept getting pulled into that childhood grudge with her..."

She chewed a bit on the end of her quill before adding another line of writing to the paper.

"Unless it was maybe because the Poison joke heard Thunderlane call Spike a brat?" she asked herself, looking back to the book in confusion. "Hmm... I wonder if it works like that. Kind of wish I had some to study now—"

"Twi?"

Twilight cut her musings short as the quiet in the library loft was shattered. She jerked her head up as whomever called for her knocked a hoof against the doorframe for the stairwell.

"Twi?" Spike's voice called up the stairs again. "I'm all done! Come have a look!"

"Be right down!" Twilight shouted back as she tucked the notepad under her pillow.

Twilight was whistling a little tune to herself as she hopped out of her freshly repaired basket. Though she was a bit reluctant to leave the loft and the warm, early-afternoon sun streaming in through the windows, she quickly shrugged the feeling off. Carefully balancing the bowl of gems she'd been snacking on so as not to drop them all over the freshly swept floor, Twilight scooped up the book she'd been reading and made her way downstairs.

"Alright, Spike," she said as she reached the library's main room. "Let's see how you—"

Twilight stopped midsentence, her eyes going wide. The bowl slipped from her grasp, her tail unconsciously darting out to catch it before it hit the floor.

"Well? How's it look?"

"I, uh..." Twilight stammered a bit as she just stared at the stallion before her.

Spike was no longer eye-level with her. If anything, he seemed taller than ever with the way his chest was puffed out. Certainly a far cry from the slightly pudgy colt he'd been the day before, his fedora sat atop his head at its usual rakish angle, and an expectant smile seemed permanently carved onto his muzzle.

That, however, was not what had rendered her nearly speechless.

"So (hmmph)..." Twilight had to shove a claw over her mouth to keep from laughing. "Where'd you find (heh!) that apron?"

She almost wanted to take the question back as Spike seemed to deflate a bit. Twilight could see the unicorn's cheeks flush as he looked at the frilly, pink, heart-embroidered cloth that cover his front.

"Would you believe it's the only one we own?" he asked, sweeping one leg to the bookshelves. "Come on, that's not important! How do the shelves look?"

Twilight couldn't keep the amused grin off her face, though she did her best to keep one claw over it. While Spike busied himself with removing the apron, she turned her attention to the room itself.

She all-too-clearly remembered what it had been like coming home the night before. Too exhausted to even fetch her key for the library door. Slumped over the back of Spike, who himself had been freshly cured by whatever strange brew Zecora had mixed. Only for the door to open from Spike's magic and reveal the bog of scattered books they had to wade through...

"... Save it for tomorrow?" Spike had asked, sounding only vaguely hopeful.

"Just this once," she'd replied.

Now the mess was nothing more than memories as she looked over the carefully organized shelves.

"This... wow, this all looks pretty good," she said, setting down the book and bowl she'd brought down with her. "You even dusted and everything."

Spike grunted as his magic undid the final knot and cast the apron off. His smile returned as he watched Twilight gently run a claw along the shelves. He could see her mouth moving, silently reading off the titles and authors for each book she passed. She paused for a moment upon reaching the end, before turning around to look at him again.

"They're all perfectly arranged too! You really did all this yourself?" Spike twitched a bit at that. The honest surprise in Twilight's voice stung a bit, even if she was giving him a proud smile. "Heh, here I kind of thought you weren't paying attention—"

"When you went over the filing system? Come on, Twi, it's not like I was gonna leave all the library work to you," Spike finished for her with a chuckle. "Besides, I owed you at least this much after the last few days."

Twilight didn't say anything response. Rather, she sprang forward, grabbing hold of him in a tight hug. Spike smiled, gently patting her head spines down a bit, and letting the warm embrace soothe away the headache he'd developed.

She probably doesn't need to know it took three tries to remember it all...

Spike rolled his eyes at the thought, but let out a little chuckle anyway.

"Well you've already more than made up for things with me," Twilight assured him as she broke away from the hug.

"Guess that just leaves the ponies from the market place then. There's probably still a few stalls and doors that need fixing and re-coloring," Spike said as he began to gather the various cleaning implements he'd been using. "Hey, maybe I can hurry over and—"

Clack, clack, clack

Spike was cut off by the sound of knocking. His eyes immediately darted to the front door. In the corner of his vision, he could see Twilight flipping through another notepad and checking it against the clock hanging on the wall.

Clack, clack, clack

"Or maybe not," Spike said with a sigh as he started towards the back of the room.

"That's funny, she's a little early," Twilight commented as she tapped her claw against the schedule.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

The knocks were sounding more insistent. Spike was only half paying attention as he opened the door to the basement.

"Can you just let her in while I put this stuff away?" he asked as the procession of cleaning supplies trailed after him. "It'll just be a second."

"One step ahead of you," Twilight answered from over his shoulder, accompanied by the creak of the front door opening. "Hi there! Welcome to the Golden Oaks Librar-eek!"

Twilight's frightened yelp immediately broke Spike's concentration. The broom, dustpan, feather duster, and various other tools all clattered to the ground as his levitation spell vanished with a soft pop. None of that mattered as he spun back to the entrance, seeing Twilight stumbling away from the front door.

"Twi?" Spike felt his heart skip a beat as he hurried to her side. "Twi! What's—"

"Well, well! Looks like somepony had a growth spurt!"

Spike's question died in his throat. His body locked up as he heard the new voice.

You have got to be kidding me...

Twilight's face was buried in his side. Spike wrapped a foreleg protectively around her as he turned his gaze to the doorway.

Just as he'd feared, the pony standing there was not the one he'd been expecting.

"What's wrong, Spike?" Trixie asked, sweeping her cape dramatically. "Surprised?"

The journalist didn't answer. He just stared.

Trixie was no longer invisible, a fact that she seemed to be relishing. Her coat and mane were freshly groomed, showing no signs of the previous day's stresses. The stars on her cape and hat seemed to be sparkling, though Spike could just make out the faint pink glow of her magic providing the effect. Topping it all off was her familiar, infuriatingly smug, grin.

Still, even trapped in that smile, Spike knew one thing for sure.

Trixie was wrong. Surprise was the absolute last thing he was feeling.

"I was kind of hoping not to see you again so soon," Spike admitted as he carefully put himself in front of Twilight.

"Cute joke," Trixie quipped back, her grin dropping. "But last I checked, we still had a score to settle—"

"Let's not, and say we did," Spike interrupted as his magic blazed to life.

WHAM

Without another word, his spell slammed the door shut again. Spike closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, an immensely satisfied smile crossing his muzzle. He looked down as he felt something tap on his fetlocks, and gave another reassuring pat to Twilight as her wide-eyed stare flicked between him and the front entrance.

WHAM

"HEY!"

... And I forgot to latch the door.

Spike wanted to face-hoof at the realization, but other concerns were pressing on his mind. The primary one being Twilight as she ducked behind him again. Trixie was at a close second as she stomped inside.

"Just what's the big idea, huh?" she shouted as she shoved her hat back into place. "Trixie is here on important business! You can't just go slamming doors in her face!"

"Let me guess," Spike said as he rolled his eyes. "You've got another challenge or contest or something to try and prove you're better than me?"

"Not just any old contest, Spikey." Trixie's face twisted into a horrible grin as she spoke, leaning dangerously close to the stallion. "The contest. One that’ll show everypony—"

"Forget it," Spike said with a frustrated snort.

"I knew you couldn't resist-wait, what?!" Trixie's smile dropped, replaced with a look of pure shock as she stared at Spike.

The purple stallion just rolled his eyes. For a moment, all he could think about was the previous night. The hours he'd spent wandering the Everfree Forest, calling Trixie's name. Walking until the sun started to set, bringing darkness and a sinking feeling in his stomach.

That feeling, and the concerns that came with it, had long ago fled. He certainly didn't miss them as Trixie's voice sputtered back to life.

"I-but-why would—" Trixie's eyes were nearly bulging out as she tried to protest. "You can't just refuse!"

"Why not? We both know you're just trying to trick me. Again," Spike said, his forelegs crossing over his chest. "And even if you weren't, I still wouldn't go!"

"What? Are you scared?" Trixie shot back, her mocking smile starting to return. "Scared because you know you'll lose?"

Trixie's smile faded as Spike just glared at her in response. He could feel something burning inside him again as he stared down the showmare.

And for once, it wasn't anger.

"You can say whatever you want, Trixie, because guess what?" Spike drew in a deep breath, readying himself to say the words he'd prepared. "I'm done."

Trixie stumbled back, her jaw dropping. If Spike hadn't known better, he'd have thought she'd just been slapped in the face. Not that her reaction changed anything. He took a step after her, his legs calm and steady. He could feel the warmth bolstering his words as he kept talking.

"I'm done falling for your stupid traps. I'm done upsetting my friends and getting who knows how many other ponies stuck between us. And I'm especially done with getting into trouble because I keep butting heads with you." Spike jabbed one hoof toward the door, his eyes boring into Trixie. "Fighting like this isn't gonna change anything for either of us. So it's over. Now leave."

The entire library fell deathly silent. Even the summer breeze outside had stopped as Spike's words hung in the air. For a few moments, there was just Trixie, her eyes turned to her hooves, and himself, pointing to the exit.

"Over?" Trixie's hissing voice finally broke the silence. "What makes you think I'd let you say it's over?"

Spike's pointing hoof faltered. Trixie's entire body was trembling, sparks of pink energy falling from underneath her hat. Her head snapped up, her pink eyes blazing. Spike's leg immediately went back to the floor as he stumbled back a step.

For a brief moment, he could almost see the dragon from the Everfree Forest in that glare.

"After everything you did to ruin my life you think you can just shut me out?!" Trixie's entire body was crackling with magic as she stomped closer, fury filling every line on her face. "Well I say we're nowhere near done! I say you're not getting a moment's peace until you've gone through the exact same humiliation I have! What are you gonna say about THAT?!"

The ghost of a green bubble started to form between Spike and Trixie. It was a struggle to focus on it as Twilight's claws dug into his leg. A task made even harder as he tried to open his mouth. Even as the air around the stallion started to shudder, he knew what he was going to say.

"I think that's why Spike is glad his friends are near. To help him deal with problems like you, my dear."

Spike's mouth snapped shut as another voice spoke up, saying almost exactly what he'd wanted to say. In a rhyming couplet, no less.

In that same instant, Trixie froze in her advance. The magic pouring from her body suddenly vanished in a harsh crackle, taking Spike's flimsy shield spell with it. The anger on her face disappeared just as quickly, replaced with wide eyes and fearful shudder.

Slowly and carefully, Spike leaned to the side to peek over Trixie's shoulder. He smiled as he saw the mare that had spoken standing in his still-open doorway.

"Oh, uh, hi Zecora," he said, giving the zebra a wave. "Sorry, you kinda caught me in the middle of som—"

He was cut off as Trixie spun around, her tail nearly whipping him in the face. The journalist didn't complain, or even wince away however. Not as he watched Trixie begin to tremble as Zecora lowered her hood.

"Z-Z-Zecora!?!" Trixie stammered out, her voice shaking almost as badly as she was. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Spike invited me. There's no call for surprise," Zecora explained as she stepped inside, frowning as she glanced at the clock. "Though I am a bit late, for which I apologize."

Spike just grinned. Before he could assure his guest about the perfection of her timing, though, Trixie's pale face filled his vision.

"You invited-you invited her here?!" Trixie was breathing heavily as she pointed from Spike to the zebra and back again. "Why did you invite her here?!?"

"Well, after Zecora cured my Poison Joke, my friends and I figured that she wasn't as bad as everypony in town seemed to think." Spike took a step back from Trixie as he spoke, and gently pushed her hoof back to the floor. "Plus I really kind of owed her something for all the hassle we gave her, so I figured I'd help do something about her bad reputation."

"He thought an interview in his newspaper might make the town's opinion switch," Zecora added as she hung her cloak on the nearby coat stand. "And perhaps dispel these rumors that I'm some kind of evil witch."

"Oh... oh that's... nice..." Trixie managed to squeak out as she slinked to the side.

Spike was torn as he watched the other unicorn. He wanted to smile, to maybe even laugh at the sight of Trixie suddenly cowed into near silence. At the same time, he couldn't ignore the feeling nagging at the back of his mind. The slightest bit of sympathy for the trembling mare before him...

"Hey, Zecora?" Twilight's voice broke in.

Trixie seemed relieved to have something else to look at. Spike's gaze followed hers to his assistant. Twilight was standing in front of Zecora, holding something out to her.

Out of the corner of his eye, Spike could see Trixie's face turn as white as her mane.

"Th-that book..." Trixie muttered before she managed to cover her mouth.

Spike couldn't hold back anymore as a knowing smile came to his muzzle. Trixie looked like she wanted to shrink away, but Zecora's eyes were already on her. All as Twilight clutched the green-bound book close, the curly fern embossed on the cover clearly visible along with the title.

Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls that are Simply Super

"Thanks Twi. I nearly forgot about that," Spike said, flashing a wink to Twilight. "That's the book, right Zecora? The one that you used to cure me?"

“Indeed, luckily you have a copy of this tome. Especially since mine has vanished from my home.” Zecora gave Spike a thankful smile. “With it, the Poison Joke antidote is simple to brew. How odd that we could not find it after I used it to help you…”

The zebra’s eyes moved from Spike, her smile fading. Trixie let out a nervous chuckle as they zeroed in on her.

"R-right, well... I-er, Trixie can see that you're busy," Trixie said as she slowly stepped to the side. "She'll just show herself out—"

"Leaving already?" Spike had to bite back his voice before a chuckle could slip out. "You were saying something about another challenge."

"Oh! Uh, yeah. That..." Trixie stammered out.

Spike didn't move from where he was standing. He just watched as Trixie kept sliding back, glancing over her shoulder. There was some color returning to her cheeks as she noticed Twilight and Zecora had moved aside, leaving a clear path to the front door. He chomped down on his tongue as she turned back to him.

"Trixie supposes she can let you off this time!" she declared, nearly tangling herself in her cape as she tried to sweep it over her shoulder again.

He couldn't help it any longer. A snicker slipped out as Trixie stumbled a bit. Spike couldn't hide it as she locked eyes with him again. Then again, he didn't really try to. Something just felt overwhelmingly right as she saw his smug grin. Even as Trixie's face twisted into a scowl.

"Just don't think this is over," she growled out, pink magic flaring beneath her hat. "You haven't seen the last of me, Spikey!"

BAMF

The sudden noise and cloud of sparkling smoke filling the room wiped away Spike's grin. He coughed, his magic grabbing hold of his fedora to try and fan the cloud away from his face. Somewhere amidst the sound of himself, Zecora, and Twilight choking on smoke, he heard hooves pounding against the floor.

By the time the smoke faded, Trixie was gone. Looking out the door, he could see only a blue speck vanishing over the horizon. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes as he placed his hat back atop his head.

"My apologies, again, for being late. I hope you understand," Zecora spoke up as Spike brushed a few last sparkling specks from his coat. "Though from what I saw, you seemed to have Trixie well in hand."

"Thanks," Spike said as he finally got the last of the glitter off. "It sure didn't feel like it for a min—"

Spike stopped and blinked. Something about Zecora's tone struck him. He lifted his head, looking at the zebra, and found her smiling at him. Not as though she were simply happy to see him, but almost with something like pride in her eyes.

Wait... how long was she watching?

"No need to humble yourself, Spike, today this is your win." Zecora didn't give him a chance to voice the thought before putting a hoof on his shoulder. "Trixie tried to goad you to fight on her terms, but you did not give in."

The warm feeling from earlier returned with those words. Spike's question melted away under it as he returned Zecora's smile.

"Ahem..."

The sound of somepony clearing her throat caused both of them to turn their heads. Twilight stood at their sides, the book still clutched in her talons, an eager smile on her face as she looked up at the two equines.

"So, should I get something for you guys to eat during the interview?" she offered. "Tea, coffee, muffins..."

Spike smiled and brushed the dragon's spines down again. She giggled in response as he magically lifted the book from her claws.

"Sounds great, Twi," he said as he set it down on the table.

Twilight darted off towards the kitchen with a spring in her step. Spike just smiled as he turned his attention to the front door, his magic wrapping around it.

"Alright, Zecora," he said with an eager smile of his own. "Ready to be in this week's edition of 'Prose's Ponyville Corner?'"

He glanced back to Zecora, and his smile wavered. The zebra was giving him an odd look. One of her eyebrows raised as though she were pondering what he'd just said.

"Yeah, I know." Spike sighed and rolled his eyes. "I didn't choose the name, alright?"

"It is fine, Spike, I'll follow your lead." Zecora gave a nod as she found a seat on one of the cushions around the central reading table. "Allow me to provide any answers you need."

Spike smiled. His magic reached out, grabbing his familiar writing supplies and plucking the quill from his hat. Almost as an afterthought, he gave the door a quick nudge.

"Well then, let's get started!" he said as the door swung shut.

Clack.

Author's Notes:

And with this, I finally reach the end of Boast Backers.

I have to apologize once again to everyone that's stuck with me this long. I took so much time releasing the chapters, trying to divide my attention between this, Multiversal Harmony, and some other side things I've been working on for my gaming group, but we made it. A big thanks to everyone that's enjoyed this story and stuck with it this far.

And an even bigger thanks to my critics. Especially those of you that took the time to comment even when it had been months since my last update. The reminder that there were folks out there that could read this and care enough about what I wrote and how I wrote it to leave their thoughts really helped push me to the end. I hope that you guys found at least a little something to enjoy.

That being said, when next I return to the Flipverse, I think I'll be trying to move the spotlight off Spike. He's had a good amount of time in it, but there's more characters in the Flipped Six that need some exploring. Though that'll probably need to wait until after I've finished with my obligations to Multiversal Harmony of course.

So until we meet on the updates page again, everybody! This isn't "goodbye", just "goodbye, for now"!