I woke up with a start, the last remnants of a nightmare trickling from my mind. I stared into the darkness, panting heavily, sweat dripping from my body.
Pain.
It was a dull one, to say the least, but still pain - a throbbing sensation that assaulted my skull every three heartbeats or so, each pulse making me grimace. I remembered the concussion, but it was merely a faint memory from years long past. I could barely grasp the concept of ‘yesterday’.
They say sometimes you have to take a wrong turn to get to the right place. I concluded that the right place was anywhere other than where I was now. I’d been tricked, deceived, by happy-go-lucky ponies – my pegasus friend and a clan of dishonest cave guides. They’d all betrayed me; I’d thought I could put my trust in others. It was almost a trivial thing, to leave out those tiny details that nopony cared for. (On second thought, those ponies might care if those details happen to be the map of your entire cave system!) Yet the unconscious lies were catastrophic if the lives of the ponies on the receiving end were in danger because of them. Even worse was when lies unintentional were revealed to have dark intentions.
They’d willingly, knowingly lured us underground … and plunged us into the deep.
A glance in Applejack’s direction confirmed that she was still asleep. I breathed deeply, trying desperately to clear the cold thoughts from my mind. But that was difficult considering the temperature of the area around me.
Cold thoughts. Cold temperatures. Cold ponies. Cold actions. The whole world’s this way, I suppose.
I peeled the sleeping bag from my wet scales and rose to my feet. I stretched and surveyed the room aimlessly: It was much too dark to see anything other than shadows. Nonetheless, sound was very much still present. I perked my ears, straining to listen to anything beyond the empty, astronomical silence.
There. The sound of flowing water.
I hesitated, recalling that Blue Moon River was nearby where we had camped. I turned in the direction of the noise, hoping to locate the flowing water. To indulge in my curiosity would be a risk: I desperately wanted to see whether the sparkling river glowed at night. I had already deduced that it was magical – the prolonged period before Applejack finally started experiencing hypothermic symptoms could only be explained by an enchantment. Although, if it didn’t, and if I again found myself lost, the endeavor wouldn’t be worth the trouble.
But, then again, it would make a breath-taking photograph…
I strapped my headlamp to my head, taking note of, but not changing, the near-lusterless bulb inside. I fetched my backpack, just in case. Applejack wouldn’t be needing it anyway. Surveying the mare one last time, I started off. The walk wouldn’t be long. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to return to the realm of sleep anyway.
The thing about caves is that you never realize how alone you are until you’re by yourself. As I walked, I noticed that all I had to accompany me were my little light and the darkness. I wasn’t afraid though – I’d already had plenty of time to be. Fearing the unknown in those first few hours had left me with nothing else to fear. My adrenaline had been depleted, and yet, I concluded it was better that way.
I shuddered, futilely rubbing my arms. Sleeping had diffused all the warmth I had accumulated by moving around while we were awake. I exhaled a bright, gold flame of fire into the air in front of me. It chased away the darkness for a few fleeting moments before it dwindled away and was overtaken by the shadows. I sniffed the smoke and sneezed. The sound shattered the silence, and I winced as it echoed off every possible surface, likely stirring awake every slumbering creature in the cave. I growled in frustration. I had to be more careful. It was the little things that created big consequences.
The sound of rushing water grew louder as I turned left. Excitement overriding my irritation, I scampered down the corridor. I saw a flash of movement, this time right before my eyes rather than barely appearing out of a corner. Concern crept back into my mind. Was it really the shadow? If that was the case, there was no denying the fact that something truly was wrong with my vision. Twilight had always said I’d look even more handsome with glasses. I’ve never believed her. What would Rar- I mean, what would everyone think of me? Surely no true hero would need the aid of spectacles.
There was also the nagging, lingering possibility that it wasn’t my eyesight, which I should have been relieved about. Something could have been lurking in the shadows, waiting for just the right opportunity to ensnare me in its trap. One is always more vulnerable when they’re alone.
With my light continuing to fade, I crept along the edge of the wall. If there really was something searching for me, I wouldn’t make it easy for them. I spread my wings out for balance and pressed my body against the rock, my claws gliding along and searching for unexpected major bumps or crevices. A spider dashed across my hand.
“Or bugs,” I thought, shivering.
A faint blue glow appeared farther down the tunnel. I scurried faster, the river’s murmuring growing louder by the second. The light grew in intensity as I reached the end of the passage. I paused at the aperture, gazing at the brightness in awe. My claws gripped the edge of the wall, and I craned my neck slowly, ever so slowly, so that I could peer around the opening. I needed to ensure that there truly was nothing waiting for me. To my relief, I was greeted by open air … and the most breathtaking view I had seen in years.
The ground sloped sharply on two sides, forming a chasm in the cave chamber. Water cascaded through the fissure, a luminous blue ether surrounding the entire river. It flowed quickly, but it was just slow enough for one to consider it calm. Tiny white sparkles swayed in the air right above the water, dancing to the music made by the rushing streamflow. A slight breeze accompanied the moving water, giving the room a pleasant chill. I couldn’t unhinge my eyes from the phenomenon. It was simply magical.
Gradually, I worked my way down to the river, transfixed by its beauty. I nearly stumbled and fell in but was able to steady myself before that catastrophe occurred. I may very well have ended up like Applejack if I’d taken a swim. The thought of Applejack reminded me to take a picture of the river with my camera. I captured the scene beautifully, focusing on a particular part of the water but making sure to exemplify the radiance of the entire waterway. I smiled at the photo, knowing Twilight would be just as mesmerized by the sight.
For several minutes, I sat at the small riverbank and allowed the calm of the river to engulf me. I closed my eyes and listened to its steady flow and the quiet twinkling of the magic. It whispered warmly into my ears, like the soft words of a mother who kisses her children goodnight. I opened my eyes and watched ripples form and undulate on the surface of the water. Up and down. Up and down. Then they’d sway left a bit, and then some would drift to the right. They moved with the grace of practiced ballerinas, moving in sync with the whispers of the magic. The cool air widened my eyes and sharpened my senses. I felt electrified, galvanized, alive. Yet, I didn’t move. I couldn’t move. I was rooted to the ground. The air spoke to me in a whisper, yet I didn’t fight the calm. I listened, and I was filled with a sense of wonder and an overall understanding that I had never felt before.
Maybe the ponies in charge of the cave weren’t so bad. Maybe they purposefully left tourists to interpret and solve the labyrinth of tunnels and menacing hazards. That way, each and every individual could discover the masterpiece concealed within the cave walls. The magnificence of the river was hidden, but only to those who were blind. The ponies who were brave enough, sharp enough, strong enough – those were the ponies who would find this treasure. And only them … because it was a sight only for the worthy.
“Spike?” A sleepy voice asked.
Startled, I whirled around. Applejack stood behind me, worry evident on her face. She was equipped with her saddlebags, looking as if she was prepared to flee at any moment. Her hat sat crooked upon her head. She seemed concerned, and I immediately felt remorseful for slipping away from the chamber. On the bright side, her skin no longer looked as pallid as it did only hours before. She seemed stronger, much stronger, and I was relieved to see that.
“What the hay do you think you’re doing down here?”
“I could ask you the same question,” I responded, looking her over. “Aren’t you supposed to be asleep? You’re sick, remember?”
She snorted. “I’m fine. Again, why are you here? I’d like an answer this time.”
“I wanted to see the river,” I responded. Applejack’s eyebrows shot up. “No, no, no! Not touch the river, see the river.”
“Why?” She responded curtly. I could tell she wasn’t impressed.
“Seriously? I mean, just look at this view,” I said, gesturing to the water. “I got it on camera too; I can already see the collage we can make with all the photos I’ve taken of this place. And that,” I pointed to the water again, “will be the centerpiece. I mean, you’ve got to admit… Isn’t it just spectacular…?”
Applejack glanced at Blue Moon River for a long moment and then shook her head vigorously, her eyes widening in alarm.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, anxiety and a bit of doubt creeping into my voice.
“I – I…” Applejack stammered, seemingly appalled by the water. “There’s something wrong with it,” she breathed. She retreated backward slowly, eyes darting around the room. “It’s glimmering so fancily…”
“But that’s what makes it so amazing! Just take a moment to absorb it.”
“No! That’s exactly what it wants you to do. It’s deceiving you. There’s a trap in there. There’s no way … it can’t be right…”
“But–”,
“It’s evil. Polluted with darkness. The sight of it is…,” she trailed off shaking her head as if the world around her was a dream she could end voluntarily. “I, I…”
I was thunderstruck by Applejack’s words. The river radiated peace and tranquility, not darkness. The water was so clear, its beauty so clear, and yet she proclaimed that it was contaminated, impure. She’d lost her mind.
“Evil? How could you say it’s evil?” I countered, anger bubbling within me as I stood up. “Just sit here with me for a moment. Watch! Listen! You’ll understand once you become one with it.”
Fear had overtaken her eyes. Pure raw, fear with nothing to hide. “Spike, you’ve got to listen to me! Legends have warned about a body of water just like this. I never even thought of it until now. It’s dangerous. Extremely dangerous. We’ve got to go. Quick. This is all my fault…”
I was furious. “What are you talking about?! Are you crazy? This is the one thing that unifies this entire cave system. It should be revered, and no number of fabricated legends will convince me otherwise.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t take this away from me.”
Applejack was on me in milliseconds. She wrestled me, trying to grab me, trying to gain control of me.
She was going to take me away from the river.
I fought back, twisting and turning every which way. Stopping her was of utmost importance. The river’s radiance was growing brighter by the second. It was hypnotizingly beautiful, but Applejack couldn’t see it. I needed to be back in its glory.
I snarled, raving with insanity. I pushed, shoved, and elbowed Applejack. She was stronger though, even with the lingering effects of her hypothermia. I could see that she was winning. The riverbank was getting farther and farther away.
I resorted to words. “Applejack, please!” I begged, thrashing even harder. “You have to let go of me. It needs me. It needs you. Please, Applejack, please! I have to return to it.”
Applejack gripped my shoulders, hard enough to make me cry out in pain. Her eyes bore into mine, staring straight through me and into my soul. I was terrified until I saw through her … and could see that she was only holding on to merely a thread of hope.
“Remember the trickery, Spike. Remember the deceit. Remember the lies. Remember me. Remember what it did to me. It’s enchanted with dark magic. Don’t let it consume you. Don’t let them deceive you again.”
She was trying to save me.
I fell into a deep, spiraling hole, everything within me dropping down one piece at a time. The river transformed into a sea, roaring now with great fury. The waves crashed upon us, showing no mercy for those unworthy of seeing the treasure. Calm turned to calamity, and what was tranquility became a storm. The violence clashed with what was left of my sanity, and my mind was caught in the crossfire. I began to blackout.
“No, Spike! Not now! We–” She pleaded, shaking me. Her words melted into silence.
And then a blood-curdling scream resonated throughout the room.
It jolted me awake, denying the looming threat of unconsciousness. Applejack was the source of the cry, a hoof cupped over her mouth. She stared behind me in terror. I silenced the howling voices in my head and turned around, not wanting to believe Applejack’s reaction was justified.
Something arose from deep within the water. Something dark and shadowy, with steely, ice-blue eyes. Something the height of three Celestias, with a wispy, razor-sharp tail. Something that radiated coldness and had the most sinister of sinister expressions on its face. Something bad, something hideous, something horrible.
“Thieves,” it snarled, baring all three hundred of its polar-bear-white teeth.
Panic-stricken, I whipped around and made a beeline for one of the hallways. The aperture closed as an ice wall slammed down hairs away from my nose. I was hurled against it. A small stream of blood began to trickle from somewhere on my face. I couldn’t tell where. Everything was spinning again.
The demon laughed deeply, but I could feel its glare freezing the scales on the back of my neck.
It was too late. We had been sitting in the storm’s eye just moments ago, but now we were doomed to suffer because we didn’t move away from the peace.
It was all my fault, and that was clearer than Blue Moon River’s water.