He is a child again, walking down the silver halls of the castle, his pudgy little legs struggling to keep him balanced and upright. Every step is a new experience for him, having just learnt to talk the other day. Everything around him is sparkly and shining. The grumble in his stomach indicates that he is hungry and the shiny walls look like delicious diamonds. However, experience has told him the walls were not edible and would just hurt his undeveloped teeth. No, he needed something softer, something softer and leaking with juices… Meat.

Farther down the hall, the tantalizing look of his surroundings keeps him hungry. He needs to find mother, she’ll have something for him to eat. She always kept good care of him.

“Momma…” he calls out, his high-pitched voice echoes down the halls. “Momma?” he cries louder. Now at a full waddle, he trips on something but he can’t see what. He feels a burning pain in his knee, tears build up within his eyes and he calls out louder and louder for his mother. “Momma! Momma!”

Something is wrong, where is she?

“Momma!” it’s the only word he knows, the only one he’d ever needed. So why wouldn’t she come? Did she not care from him anymore?

“Baby?”

The sweet voice of his mother can be heard throughout the shining halls. He looks up and through his teary eyes he sees his mother, running towards him. She smells of blood and sweat, sweet smells to him and he couldn’t be happier.

“Momma!”

Overwhelming joy overtook him. Finding new strength, he managed to press pass the pain in his knee. He ran towards her voice, the odour of freshly cut blood is intoxicating. What had she killed for him today, he wondered.

“Baby,” she smiled, “what are you doing out here? You know that mommy told you to stay in your room.”

“Momma!”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I have a very special treat for you tonight, my child.”

She reached behind her, grabbing something from a bag, maybe? It didn’t matter; all that mattered was the flesh-red hunk of meat she presented to him. Salivating, enticing, he must have it. His stubby little fingers tried to grab at the meat. He wanted the meat.

“Momma, momma!”

“Be patient my little angel,” his mother hummed. “We’ll eat back in the room.”

“Momma?”

“Now hurry. I know how you can get hungry,” she said. “And I have more food back at home.”

That word. Food was it? Food. Food. Food…

“F-f-ood?”

“Yes, my precious little thing,” his mother said. The way she beamed at him seemed to light up the world around him. “Now come along, dear. It’s time for lunch.”

He took her by the tail, and happily followed along into one of the adjacent rooms. When she opened the door though, there was a blinding light and the smell of meat increased. His baser instinct kicked in, the aroma of flesh was too much for him he let go of his mother’s tail and running into the room where a large feast of corpses laid awake for him.

“Momma…I… I love you…”

*****

“Ah!” gasped Spike, shooting up from the ground. He was covered in a cold sweat from the revelation of his dream. It wasn’t a recurring dream or anything like that, but rather a subsided memory that would toy with him from time to time. Parts of his past were a bit blurry, his head doing its best to block something out or something. But dwelling on the past was one way to drive you mad. It was better to focus on the future and right now his future was waking up a certain unicorn.

Grumbling as he got up, he stretched the kinks and sores out of his back. Sleeping on the ground was something he was used to but the sores still managed to work their way in there. Once he was limbered up, he pushed passed the door of the tent castle.

The inside was…girly. That was the only word that came to mind. Pink, purple, and white seemed to be the general colour scheme. Surrounding the room were large lounge chairs, tables, and a kitchen area. There was even what looked like some sort of fashion studio tucked away in the corner with several different fabric rolls and sewing machines. It was nicer than any cave he’d ever lived in, but the bright and happy colours were stinging his eyes.

He moved to passed the lavender smelling room and headed up the inflatable stairs and into Rarity’s bedroom. What he saw was a sleeping pony curled up in a little ball, her blankets and pillows scattered across the mattress. She seemed do peaceful, purring softly in her sleep. Her black eye mask had seemed to slide off and her lashes were stuck to her cheek. Some would call it a picture of beauty.

But they were on a schedule.

“Wakey wakey,” said Spike, nudging the pony. “C’mon, we’re burning daylight.”

“Five more minutes…” drooled Rarity, grabbing one of her pillows and pulling it over her head.

“No. Not five more minutes, now!” frowned the dragon. “Don’t make me drag you out of there.”

“No… Five more minutes…”

Spike ripped the covers away from her, getting a shriek from the drowsy pony.

“Spike! How dare you!” she shrieked. “I’m not even dressed yet! Do you have any idea how discourteous that was?!”

“But you don’t wear clothes…”

“Not the point!” she roared. “You do not enter a lady’s room without first asking for permission!”

“Loud much?” asked Spike. “What the hell crawled up your butt last night?”

“Last night I—“ she stopped herself, realizing that it was pointless to argue with him. It’s not like Spike would actually care about something as privacy. So to save another pointless argument she decided to keep her mouth closed.

“Whatever, let’s get moving for the day. We’ve already burned through the morning and it’ll be noon soon. Remember, we have to stay ahead of any Lunar Republicans trying to catch you.”

“Right,” said Rarity, crawling out of bed. “Just give me a minute to get ready and we’ll go. Is that all right?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “One minute, you got that?”

“Of course,” she nodded. “And not a second more.”

*****

Spike’s eyes grew heavy as he tried to stave of sleep. He had been waiting for what seemed like hours for Rarity to get ready. “Are you ready now?!” he called through the door, yawning a bit.

“In a minute!” Rarity yelled from her room. “I’m just applying a few last minute touches!”

“You said that an hour ago…” the dragon muttered. “We’re burning daylight! Can’t you skip whatever you’re doing? It’s not like anyone is going to see you.”

“A lady must always look her best!

“Look, I just want to get moving and get this nightmare over with!”

“Is that what I am to you?” called out Rarity. “A nightmare?”

“Do you want me to answer that?” asked Spike.

The door the castle tent was pushed aside as Rarity walked out. “Well what are we waiting for?” she said, trotting gracefully passed Spike. “We’re burning daylight!”

“You think you’re so funny, don’t you?” frowned the dragon. “What the hell took you so long? Pampering the your nose? Putting on your fake eyelashes? Did you make sure to use only one hundred cotton toilet paper before wiping your ass?”

“How vulgar...” growled Rarity, rolling her eyes as they continued walking. “I was just applying a bit if make-up.”

“It should not take an entire hour to put on make-up!”

“Ugh, clearly you’ve never used it before,” scuffled the mare. “So how would you know?”

“I don’t have to use it to know that it shouldn’t take that long.”

“You know…” smiled the mare. “I think you could benefit from a little-“

“NO.”

“Oh come now,” pouted Rarity. “All I’m suggesting is a little blush. It would really bring out the green in your eyes.”

“I thought you hated green?” said Spike. “If I remember correctly, you said it was a horrid colour.”

“And if you remembered what I said after, you would remember that I also said it looked good on you.”

The dragon thought about it for a moment, remembering the events of last night. “You’re still not touching me with any of your girly crap.”

“I was just trying to help you look your best,” huffed the pony. “I will never apologize for fashion.”

“I didn’t ask you to apologize,” Spike strained. “Although I will ask you to shut up.”

“How rude!”

“Don’t care.”

ZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!

“Fricken hell!”

“Well, I am sorry, but you left me no choice,” said Rarity. “I’ve already told you I will not tolerate that sort of language.”

“I didn’t say anything, psycho!” he roared. “You’re just a ditzy little maniac that likes to shock me every time she doesn’t get her way!”

“And if that was the case, which of course it isn’t, do you think insulting the ditzy little maniac would stop making her shock you?” she asked, smiling smugly.

Spike just rolled his eyes. “Let’s just get going,” he said as the two continued down and into the forest.

*****

Manehattan.

One of the biggest cities in Equestria, it was renowned for its colourful history in business, arts, and innovation. There was a time when it was known as the Jewel of the East, bearing the fruits of knowledge and opportunity for all ponies that walked within. But that was the old world. Now, it was the Night City.  A city clouded with pollution and grime and smog so thick, not even the sun could break through it.

The occupants of this fair metropolis were a reflection on the eternal darkness. When you are shrouded by darkness all your life, you forgot what the sun looks like, and adapted to the blackness of night. Ponies of Manehattan were paler than normal, the only light ever seen from the fireflies in the lampposts. Their fair complexion was considered a beauty and a symbol of patriotism, forsaking the tans of the sun meant forsaking Celestia.

Within the city walls of Manehattan, laid the tallest building in east: The Empress State Tower. Once a place of business, it had now been converted into the Night Princess’s base of operation, and Luna’s new castle.

Inside the tower, at the top of the one hundredth and fifty sixth floor was where she resided. Princess Luna, Princess of the Night and leader of the Lunar Republic. Her throne room was windowless like a cave, with dark cerulean banners hanging low from the ceiling. There were her loyal kirin guards placed at every column and entrance, a rational precaution considering the circumstances of the war and everything. The princess herself sat far at the back of the room, overlooking it from her azure throne.

She was at the moment listening to the pleas of one of her subjects, an older stallion from Fillydelphia.

“So tell us… Pencil Swipe, was it?” asked Luna, her starry hair flickering and shining brightly in the darkness. “To what decree do you request this audience with us?”

“My princess,” said the stallion, bowing lowly in respect of his ruler. “I-I am just a humble contractor from Filly and we have been plagued with a terrible omen.”

“An omen? What nonsense is this?” the princess frowned. “We know of no such things. Explain yourself to us!”

“There is a mare,” gulped Swipe. “But she isn’t like other mares… She’s pure evil, a monster with a skin of grey,” he was on the verge of tears. “W-we have tried to reason with her, tried to offer her gifts but she only desires death for her beast!”

“Now there is a beast?”

“Y-y-yes, my Darkness,” whimpered the pony. “It is the one that kills innocent ponies. The foul thing…eats things whole while its master watches like it was some sick game!”

“Such a thing…” wondered Luna. “Sounds like a…” she started to drift off in her thought.

“Your majesty?” asked Pencil Swipe. “Is there something wrong?”

“Hmm?” hummed the princess. “Nothing. However, it is our sad duty to inform you that the war against our sister takes priority and we simply cannot spare any soldiers to deal with civil problems.”

“B-b-but that’s not acceptable!” shouted the stallion. “It’s terrorizing the city! It’s eating our children! And you’re just going to sit there and do nothing?!”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

Luna slammed her hoof down, emitting a surge of white light. Her eyes started to glow as she rose from her throne.

“WE WILL NOT BE INSULTED BY A MERE COMMONER! WE, THE PRINCESS OF DARKNESS!” she bellowed. The alicorn’s voice echoed throughout the hall. “GUARDS! ESCORT THIS PONY OUT OF OUR PRESENCE.”

“Wha- no, please! A thousand apologizes, your highness!” begged the pony, two kirin guards grabbing him by the shoulders and started to drag him out. “Please, you must help us! You can’t just forsake us! No…!”

He continued to scream and flail as he disappeared behind the large doors of the throne room, his voice slowly fading as he was dragged farther and farther away.

Luna’s eyes started to return to normal. She began to calm down, sitting back down her throne; the moon princess took a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry…” she whispered.

Clap… clap… clap…

The monotonous applause tickled the inside of Luna’s ear. She turned her head to the side to see the smiling face of Tragedy leaning against a pillar. He smacked his hooves together one last time before giving a high-pitched laugh.

The Night Princess frowned. “Do you find something amusing?”

“It must be hard playing two roles, your majesty,” sighed the duke. “But it is rather amusing.”

“Hold your tongue, Tragedy,” growled Luna. “We are not in a jesting mood.”

“We aren’t…? How tragic,” moped Tragedy satirically. “Well, luckily I’m always seeing the bright side, even if it’s shrouded with darkness.”

“Do you have a point, Tragedy?” asked the princess. “If so, quit speaking in riddles and tell us.”

“A wise pony once spoke a rhyme to me,” he said, clearing his thought. “A meaningless word is a word still said, even if the meaning flies over your head.”

“What does that mean?”

“No one’s quite sure,” smiled the duke. “The pony that recited it was nuts! But scholars and poets have taken it apart and it is the general consensus that it means the following: We don’t know!”

“Then if it’s a madmare’s gibberish, why do you bore me with it?” groaned Luna. “We’ve had a very stressful morning…”

“Oh?” Tragedy asked curiously. “Did we have another episode?”

“They’re getting worse…” said Luna. “Everything with this war has been pushing me to my limits. Tragedy, do you think-“

“You don’t have to ask, your Royal Darkness,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a demon-headed flask. “I mix some of this up before I left for the prison camp.”

“Thank you,” the princess said, taking the flask from Tragedy and popping the lid off and took a quick drink of it. “Much better, we don’t know what we would do without you.”

“I simply strive to stay in character,” he grinned. “To serve you is nothing short of a passion. To bear its fruits and sink my fangs in them…delicious.”

“Yes, I suppose,” mumbled Luna. “Now if there isn’t anything else-“

“Oh that’s right, I almost forgot my lines!” gasped Tragedy. “All this plot has gotten me sidetracked. I have returned from the prison camp as you so formally asked and taken a report.”

“How bad was it?” she asked.

“Depends on what you would consider bad,” the Duke replied. “I personally found it wonderful; death can have that effect, others would say…dreadful. Dragons are a nuisance, aren’t they?”

“Dragons are the cause of all this destruction?”

“That’s what the survivors say, if he’s a trustworthy character,” smiled Tragedy. “Our hero apparently managed to sneak into the camp unnoticed, kill a bunch of extras, spring some dragons and run off with our leading lady.”

“Speak in Equestrian, Tragedy,” mumbled the night princess. “We haven’t got all day.”

“So blind to the process…” muttered the bronze-coated stallion. “The one known as Rarity managed to crawl out of the wreak and wander off into the forest.”

“She what?!”

“And the plot thickens!” giggled Tragedy. “Isn’t it exciting?”

“Are you daft in the head? Do you have any idea what this could mean for us?!” yelled Luna. She shot up from her throne and began pacing across the room. “This is not good… Not good at all! Do you have any idea what this means?”

“Is that a rhetorical question?”

“We need to find her immediately,” ordered Luna. “We cannot allow our sister to get a hold of her!”

“You’re so dramatic sometimes, princess,” said Tragedy. “You know that?”

“Silence!” commanded the princess. “I will not stand for this! That mare holds the very fate of Equestria in her hooves!”

“Enticing, isn’t it?” commented the Duke. “It fills my heart with butterflies to think of what’s going to happen next. Oh, how I love the suspense!”

“We’ll tell you have it ends…” snarled Luna. “We must retrieve Rarity at any cost. I want you to arrange wanted posters, patrol the streets and woods. I want to find this mare and I need her alive.”

“This is where things get interesting,” smiled Tragedy. “Because there is one last twist in this little production.”

“And what is that?”

“While we don’t know for sure, we believe that the dragon that caused all the chaos has also run away with our little damsel.”

“A dragon working with a pony?” asked Luna.

“I know! Isn’t it just romantic?” cooed Tragedy, making a little kissy face.

“It’s just a nuisance,” deadpanned the mare. “And we will deal with it like all nuisances. Bring me back the mare alive but the dragon…”

“Yes?”

“Kill it. And let it be a message to the Celestials to not trifle with the Lunar Republic.”

*****

“Spikey look!” applauded Rarity, pointing out into the distance. “Is that a waterfall?”

“Hmm?” the dragon wondered, looking to where Rarity was pointing. Not that far away and beyond the treeline stood a tall waterfall, the crisp white water of the rapids fell gracefully down and crashing into the rocks below and kicking up into a mist. “Oh that… I think that’s Neighagra Falls. This means we’re actually making good time, we might be a day or two’s walk away from the border.”

“Oh Neighagra Falls!” Rarity gasped, her eyes lighting up like stars. “I’ve heard about that waterfall. It’s supposed to have one of the most beautiful, most alluring views in all of Equestria. Spikey, can we go and explore the view?”

“We’re not on vacation, Rarity.”

“Oh, come on Spike,” pouted the mare. “Can’t we go for just a quick little visit?”

“No.”

The unicorn frowned, thinking for a moment for a way to convince the stubborn dragon to go to the falls. “I know! You can use the time to scope the area for any signs of Luna’s soldiers.”

“You really want to go to Neighagra Falls, don’t you?” Spike asked.

Rarity nodded as the dragon sighed.

“Whatever… You can go bird watching and I’ll actually do something productive,” he said walking towards the falls.

“Yes! Thank you!” she smiled, wrapping the dragon up in a big hug, burrowing her head into his chest.

This sudden display of affection caught the drake off guard, his arms shocking up as the mare embraced him. Rarity’s touch was oddly soft and smooth like silk, her fur tightening his nerves at the touch. Her body heat was also strangely soothing and warm, not like a raging fire or boiling oil, but like the setting sun or a sleeping animal. It was peculiarly comforting and he could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks and was glad Rarity couldn’t see him blush.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he said, quickly shoving her off and walking ahead in a haste. “It’s not a big deal, don’t have to get all mushy on me and stuff. Now let’s go, I don’t want to waste a bunch of time.”

Rarity was a little confused by the way Spike was acting, but didn’t press him on it and instead followed him towards the Neighagra falls.

It wasn’t a very long walk to the base of the falls. The misty white rapids of the waterfall fell gracefully into the river below, painting a serene picture before crashing onto the rocks below.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” sighed Rarity, looking at the descending water. “For as vile and dirty as nature can get, it can be quite beautiful sometimes.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s orgasmic,” muttered Spike. “I can hardly contain my glee from bursting from my pants.”

“But you don’t wear clothes…”

“It’s a metaphor,” he grumbled. “Anyways let’s get this over with. Start climbing.”

“What?” the mare baffled, looking up the steep and rocky cliff that made up the waterfall. “We’re going to climb that?!”

“Yep.”

“That’s absurd!” she shrieked, “It’s suicidal! I can’t climb that!”

“And why not?” the dragon asked smugly. “Afraid to ruin your pedicure? Scared you might ruffle your coat?”

“No…” she grumbled. “I don’t have hands to climb. It would prove very difficult to and take a very long time to climb that waterfall without fingers. Hooves aren’t exactly great for rock climbing, dear.”

“That…” the drake started to say. “That actually makes a little sense.”

“I’m not stupid, Spike,” droned Rarity.

“No, you just seem stupid,” commented Spike.

ZZT!

“Ow!”

“Sorry! That time I didn’t mean to shock you!” Rarity apologized. “Sometimes it just slips my mind.”

“What, you forget to cause me pain on a daily basis?” Spike frowned. “And what do you mean it slips your mind sometimes? How the hell does this whole thing work anyways?”

“It’s emotion base I think,” the mare said. “Every time you act like a pig or make some discourteous remark I can’t help but just want to… Well you know… I’m not making this better, am I?”

“Not really, but it’s just permanent nerve damage,” he muttered. “Nothing too serious.”

“So now what do we do?” Rarity asked. “Are we going to take the long route up the falls?”

“No,” said Spike, shaking his head as he took a knee. “Climb on.”

“What?”

“Climb onto my back,” he repeated. “I’ll carry you up on my back and we’ll get this over with in a matter of minutes.”

“On-on-on y-y-your b-back?” gulped Rarity, looking up at the rocky cliff of the Neighagra falls. “B-but it’s so high! Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”

“Oh, so now that we’re in the face of danger you want to quit?” smirked Spike. “Don’t tell me we’re afraid of heights now.”

“I am not!” huffed Rarity. “I’m just not thrilled of the idea of falling to my death.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” the drake smiled. “But I would actually like to take a better look of our surroundings and I’m not letting you leave my sight for a second.  So stop being so damn stubborn and climb on my back.”

Rarity took a heavy breath. “Fine…” she sighed as she approached the dragon’s rather large and muscular back. She gently placed a hoof down, feeling the slight sting of a dozen sharp scales against it, causing her to flinch slightly. Gently, she placed it back down again, being sure to avoid the up sticking ones and the large green spines of his back. “You know you should really brush your scales, Spike. It’s a rat’s nest back here.”

“Brush scales?”

“Yes… In fact,” she said, her horn glowing as she opened her purse and pulled out a large brush. “Give me a few seconds to brush these scales down.”

“What? No, you are not touching me with that thing!” growled Spike.

“Oh hush, a little grooming won’t kill you,” she mumbled as she began to stroke against the scales.

“Hey! Stop that… That… That feels really good, actually,” the dragon said as the mare continued to brush his back. His muscles slowly started to relax as he started to lie down on the ground, letting the Rarity carry on with her grooming. Spike could feel every fiber of the brush against his body, the slight sensation of the hairs seemed to scrub away all the sense and feeling he had carried. He felt good, relaxed, a little sleepy, things he had forgotten how to feel in life.

“You see?” smiled Rarity, as she finished up the last few strokes. “You’re nothing more than a big soft puppy dog.”

“Go to hell,” Spike said dreamingly, to relaxed to do anything more. “Just keep brushing…”

“I would love to, but your scales really did a number on mine,” she said, looking at the almost destroyed brush.

“Just a few more strokes… Please?”

A warm smile stretched across Rarity’s face. “Spike, I’m surprised. Did you just say please?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” the dragon mumbled in his dream state. “It feels too damn good for you to stop now.”

“Very well,” sighed Rarity. “I suppose there are worst things than being down a hair brush.” She resumed her brushing of the scales as the dragon began to purr with the massaging effects of the brush. This was a different Spike than what she had seen yesterday, soft, relaxed, even pleasant to be around. This was not the hardened drake that he claimed to be or tried to portray. It was the dragon that had saved her from the cage and freed her, the dragon he didn’t want to be.

The hairs on the brush were starting to fray and wilt from constant brushing against the hard scales. Looser ones had gotten jammed in between the fibers while others fell out. However, his back was a lot shinier and presentable and less dirty. All his scales were facing the right way and his back was much more refined, letting her see Spike’s back in a greater sense of detail.

“Oh my…” she gasped. “Spike… Where did you get these scars?”

With no dirt or bent scales to hide them, Rarity could see two rather large welts on Spike’s back, each one located at the center of his shoulder blades, they were a dark crimson red, barely distinguishable from the dirt that once laced his back.

“What?” mumbled the dragon.

“Your back… You have two rather large swellings,” she said.

“Oh... Those…”

“Did you get these during the prison raid?” she asked.

“No… Those are old wounds,” Spike said, a tint of dread in his voice. “They’re where my wings were.”

“Oh my… What happened to them?”

The dragon took a heavy sigh, “My…my mother ripped them out when I was a child…so I couldn’t fly away from her.”