//------------------------------// // Chapter 10- Spike's true instincts revealed. // Story: This looked easier on paper. // by TheOctoWriter //------------------------------// Unfortunately what was about to greet them was definitely not happy go lucky Spike. "Spike?..." Sunset hesitantly called out. A low growl answered her. "Are you okay?" Sunset asked, her eyes widening with worry. "Arghhh!" Spike roared as he lunged towards Sunset. "Ahhh!" Sunset screamed as she barely managed to teleport away. "C'mon Sunset! Take my claw!" Gummy yelled out, already on the surface. Gummy stretched one long claw out hoping to grab Sunset. She galloped towards Gummy and jumped. Gummy managed to grab onto her. "Gotcha." Gummy said as he pulled her up. "Let's get outta here!" Gummy said as he started to run with Sunset in tow. Spike leaped onto the cliff snarling. He saw Gummy and Sunset running and gave chase, flying after them. They were all approaching the edge of the a long drop into the snow covered ground. Spike started edging closer and closer to them. He starting breathing fire at them. The flames licked at their feet. "Sunset do it now! TELEPORT NOW!" Gummy cried out as he and Sunset reached the edge and jumped. Sunset grabbed onto Gummy and teleported. Spike lunged towards them one final time but was too late. He then roared in fury and flew to the top of the mountain. Sunset's teleport had sent her and Gummy to Canterlot. "Princess! Help us!" Sunset yelled out carrying Gummy with her. Celestia approached them. "Sunset? You're alive?!" Celestia said in surprised joy. "Yes princess... I also brought Gummy with me." Sunset said as she gently laid him down against a wall. "Should we get him to a hospital?" Celestia said pointing to Gummy. "No, he'll be fine. Just knocked out when we teleported here. He'll wake up eventually." Sunset reassured. "Are you sure?" Celestia persisted. "Yes Princess! We have bigger problems now!" Sunset said, panic overwhelming her voice. "Ok Sunset, just calm down and tell me what happened..." Celestia said. Sunset proceeded to tell Celestia about traveling to the mountains and encountering a dragon, then about how they discovered the underground spring. "So you've discovered another source of water underground in the mountains?" Celestia said. "Yes, but then we found a tome resting on a rock mound." "Spike read it and then he changed..." Sunset said, her face darkening. "He became a his true self. Spike turned into one of those fire breathing monsters!" Sunset said, angry. Celestia listened to the story with grim interest. "Sunset." Celestia said, putting a hoof on her shoulder as a sign of comfort. "We may be able to get Spike to revert back to his old self." She said smiling. "Really?!" Sunset said, happily wiping away tears. "Yes, and my most faithful would like to help." Celestia said. "Hello Twilight." Celestia said as she saw Twilight galloping towards them. "I came as soon as I got your letter." Twilight said. "Don't worry Sunset." Twilight said with a smile. "We'll help Spike return to normal." "I promise." "I won't let my 1# assistant down." Twilight said looking determined "For Spike, For Me. For Equestria!" Twilight said. Then Sunset and Twilight worked to find some type of spell or item to help get Spike back to normal. Twilight looked through her books. Sunset looked through the Starswirl the Bearded section of the Royal Library. Twilight teleported to the Royal Library. "Find anything yet Sunset?" Twilight asked. "Well... not really Twi." Sunset said, looking distressed. "Oh wait! I found a book!" Sunset said happily. "Let's read it!" Twilight said as Sunset flipped through the book Starswirl's Guide to Dragon Instinct. "Let's see here, it says that if a newly awakened dragon is calmed down enough, they will revert back to their former selves." Sunset continued to read. "However, if a newly awakened dragon does not revert back to their former selves in three days. Their Dragon Instincts will take over completely!" Sunset said in fear. "Oh no! We have to stop him before that happens!" Twilight said. "But how do we calm down an enraged dragon?" They both wondered out loud simultaneously. "Fluttershy!" Sunset and Twilight said as they knocked on the door. "FLUTTERSHY WE NEED YOUR HELP! THIS IS A EMERGENCY!" They both shouted. The door suddenly swung open and smacked both of them in the face. It send them careening onto the ground. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!" Fluttershy said, worrying that she just gave them concussions. Sunset was the first to get up. She rubbed her aching head. "Fluttershy, thank celestia you are home. We need your help!" Sunset said quickly. Twilight then got up and said "Yes Fluttershy, do you know anything about dragon instinct?" "Y-yes... please come inside." Fluttershy said afraid that something bad happened to Spike. They all sit down at Fluttershy's dining table. "What do you need to know?" Fluttershy said cutting to the chase. Twilight and Sunset told Fluttershy about what happened to Spike. "Oh goodness! Is Spike alright?" Fluttershy asked. "He won't be if we don't find a way to return him to normal!" Sunset said. "Girls stop this, we're wasting time!" Twilight said. "Fluttershy, do you have any ideas of how to calm down Spike?" Twilight asked. "Have you looked through spells books?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes and we couldn't find anything." Sunset said in frustration. "Mmmh... have you tried calling his name a lot and reminding Spike of who you are Sunset?" Fluttershy said. "WHAT?! That only works in movies and harem anime!" Sunset said. "This is real life Fluttershy! REAL LIFE!" Sunset said putting a extreme amount of emphasis on the last phrase. "You never know until you try." Fluttershy said as she sipped some tea. "Don't worry Sunset if it doesn't work, I'll have a backup spell ready by the time you'll done that." Twilight said trying to reassure Sunset. "Okay, but if this doesn't work. I'm leading a pissed off Spike to your cottage first." Sunset said coldly. "You wouldn't dare..." Fluttershy said with shock and rather fearful look on her face. "Try me..." Sunset shot back. "Alright then, let's do this girls!" Twilight said. "Operation SAVE SPIKE'S BOOTY is a GO!" Twilight yelled clopping her hooves together excitedly. Sunset took a train to the Northern Mountains as Twilight searched every nook and cranny of her library for a spell for fix Spike. Sunset was worried, but also had to believe that she could save him. She had to believe that Twilight and her would bring Spike back. Sunset got off the train, shivering as her hooves touched the snow. Ok Sunset... you can do this. She said to herself. "Just don't die right? ha ha!" Sunset said, laughing nervously. She timidly called out for Spike. "S-spike..." She managed to choke out. "SPIKE!" Sunset yelled out, showing more confidence. A fierce roar was heard in the distance. Sunset tried to stand her ground and put on a brave front. Even though her forelegs started shaking. But this wasn't a ordinarydragon that approached her... This dragon was larger than all the dragons she had ever seen. It looked like he was wearing some sort of crown. Royalty perhaps? Sunset tried her luck and spoke to this newcomer. "H-hello." Sunset said, as she tried to stop her voice from breaking. "Hello, young one." The dragon rumbled, his deep voice sending vibrations through Sunset. "You can talk?!" Sunset said, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Yes... dragons always could." The dragon said with a amused chuckle. "I heard you calling out your friend's name." The dragon said, stating his observation. "Yes... I just want Spike to return to normal and come back with Gummy and I." Sunset said, with a slight tone of pleading in her voice. "Ah... you want your friend back. But have you ever thought that this was what was meant for Spike?" The dragon questioned, his eyes hardening with intent. "W-what? I don't understand." Sunset said, her voice squeaking with confusion. "Come with me." The dragon said as he started flying back to the Lord Birax's lair. "Wait up!" Sunset yelled, as she galloped after the dragon. The dragon took her directly to Lord Birax, but the throne was empty. "Why's the throne empty? Who does this belong to?" Sunset questioned, getting even more confused than before. "Lord Birax! We've came as soon as we heard-" The dragon guard cut himself off as he stared at Sunset. "Intruder in the throne room!" He shouted as he leaped towards Sunset, intending to maul her. "Wait!" Lord Birax shouted. The guard stopped himself in mid air and protested. "But Sir! She is one of those ponies! We mustn't let her escape with knowledge of your lair!" "She is our guest of honor, and you will show her the utmost respect." Lord Birax said. "My apologies, I didn't know the Lord would be having guests." The guard said, hanging his head in shame for almost killing Sunset. "It's okay." Sunset said. "As you were soldier." Lord Birax commanded. "Yes Sir!" The soldier saluted, then returned to his post. "You..." Sunset said as she pointed a hoof at the dragon sitting on the throne. "You're the dragon king?!" Sunset said, her voice squeaking with shock. "Yes." "Although I prefer the title of Baron." Lord Birax said. "Why keep such a big secret from me? You should have told me from the beginning." Sunset whined. "And risk your freaking out, I think not." Baron Birax replied smugly. "HEY! I do not freak out! I'm a calm pony!" Sunset yelled, embarrassed. "Right..." Baron Birax deadpanned. "Enough of this trivial banter, I believe you were trying to save your friend...?" Birax, said with a exaggerated raise of his eyebrows and a slight nudge on Sunset's shoulder. "Right!" Sunset said, her face turning scarlet. "I was wondering oh great and powerful Birax the merciful, if you knew how to save my dear friend Spike." Sunset said, as she bowed her head in a show of respect. "Whoa, lying it on a little thick, don'tcha think?" Birax said, as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by Sunset's groveling. "Oh great and power-" Sunset began but was cut off by Birax. "Save all the groveling for a evil overlord, will ya?" Birax said, a look of annoyance plastered on his face. "Oh thank you great and-" "Stop doing that." Birax said as he put a claw in front of Sunset's face to stop her from continuing. "Sorry about that Baron Birax." Sunset apologized. "Please, call me Birax, no need for Baron. You are my guest of honor after all..." Birax said with a warm smile. "Please help me return my friend Spike back to normal Birax." Sunset requested. "Meh... I'll think about it." Birax said with a bored look on his face. 1 minute later... "Okay, I'll help you." Birax said "Oh thank you! Thank you!" Sunset said with a look of surprised happiness on her face. "Yes." "Now the first step is identifying what happened to your friend." Birax said, as he toke out a pen and notepad. Sunset stared at the couch. "When did that get there?!" Sunset said looking bewildered. "Please take a seat." Birax said as he gestured towards the couch. "O-okay." Sunset said, still weirded out but the sudden change in tone. "Now, miss shimmer... would you tell me what happened to Spike?" Birax said as he pulled out a notepad. "Well... we found this oasis inside a cave nearby." Sunset said. "Mhmm, Go on..." The dragon instructed. "Spike found this weird stone tablet and looked at it... then he changed." Sunset said, hoarsely whispering the last word. "Why?" Birax asked. "What do you mean why? Aren't you a dragon?! Shouldn't you know these things!" Sunset yelled out in a distraught tone. "Yes, I know. But you're not going to like the answer." Birax said, his eyes narrowing in seriousness. "Just tell me Baron, we're wasting time." Sunset said sternly. Birax sighed heavily. "Spike is now fueled by his instincts. He has now returned to normal." "What?!" Sunset said in shock. "He's not normal! He's... turned into a monster!" Sunset yelled. "I understand that you're upset, but this is how he is supposed to be." Birax started explaining. "It's not normal to you ponies because you've changed his personality. His sheltered life caused his dragon instincts to suppress." "That doesn't matter! How do we stop it?" Sunset asked determined. "You can't stop it." Birax said his eyes narrowing. "But I read a book about this! It said that if we calm him down before three days he'll return to normal!" Sunset said. "The book lied to you." Birax said bluntly. "What?!" Sunset cried out in shock. "How is that possible?" Sunset asked. starting to panic. "The book was written by a pony, correct?" Birax questioned. "Yes.. but what does that have to do with it?" Sunset asked confused. "Ponies don't know much about us." Birax said. "Besides I'm a dragon." "Try to trust my judgement." "Okay, I'll trust you." Sunset said. A few moments of silence followed. "He is a teenager correct?" Birax asked. "Yes! but why does that matter?" Sunset asked confused. "He will return to his normal to normal eventually." Birax explained. "How long will it take?" Sunset asked. "I don't know, no dragon has ever tapped into the power of the dragon path stone tablet unguided." "We don't know if it affected him on a deeper level." Birax said. "For now, return to your home and await his return." Birax instructed. "He'll know how to come back?" Sunset questioned. "Yes, he will fly back with his wings." Birax said nonchalantly. "But he doesn't have wings!" Sunset pointed out. "He will gain them after this phase." "We call it the true awakening." Birax said finishing with the explanation. "Why do you call it that?" Sunset asked. "It's when all dragons true instincts are revealed." "Ok." Sunset said nodding. "Can you return home safely?" Birax asked. "Yes, I'll be fine. Thank you for telling me all this information Birax." Sunset said. "You're welcome Sunset, good luck with Spike." Birax said. "Bye Birax!" Sunset said smiling. "Goodbye Sunset." Birax said as Sunset teleported back to Ponyville. Sunset ran over to Twilight's place. "Twilight open up!" Sunset yelled. Twilight opened the door to find Sunset there. "Sunset! Where's Spike?" Twilight asked. "I talked with the dragon baron, he said... that we have to wait." Sunset said sadly. "Spike will return to his normal self and come back to us." "No! I refuse to believe it! The book said-" "The book lied Twilight, the dragon told me himself." "I'm sorry Twilight, I want him back badly too." Sunset said as she put a hoof on her shoulder in comfort. "But we have to wait and see what happens to Spike." Sunset said, accepting the reality of the situation. "Okay Sunset, if the dragon says so. Then we'll wait and see." Twilight said. Stay safe Spike.Twilight thought. This was going to be the hardest part. Weeks passed and eventually, everypony in Ponyville wondered. What happened to Spike? Spike woke up. He was lost. Alone. Cold. "Is anypony here?!" Spike cried out. Spike stretched his wings and slowly hovered into the air. He decided to go to the only familiar place in these mountains. "Ah... so the hatchling has returned." Lord Birax proclaimed. "What happened to me?" Spike questioned. "Your destiny, your purpose." Lord Birax began. "You saw what the ponies did to us." "Yes..." Spike said. "And how do you feel?" Lord Birax asked. "I feel different." "More powerful." "Faster." "Lighter." "Good, then your body didn't reject the transformation." Lord Birax said. "There were others who went through this?" Spike asked. "Oh yes, it was a shame they didn't survive." Lord Birax said, his voice dropping at the last word. "Where do you want me to go?" Spike asked. "Go back to the ponies." "Fulfill your destiny!" Lord Birax roared. "DESTROY THEM!" "N-no!" Spike yelled, his eyes burning with anger. "I have friends and family back in Ponyville!" Spike said, standing his ground. "You dare refuse my orders?" Lord Birax said quietly. "GUARDS!" "Yivgornux has disobeyed and orders.." "AND THUS HAS COMMENDED TREASON AGAINST DRAGON KIND!" Spike watched as a wave of dragon guards flew into the room. "I don't wanna hurt you guys.." Spike said, as he hovered in the air. "ARGHHH!" One dragon guard said as he charged Spike. Spike barely dodged claw strikes as another shot flaming arrows at him. Spike spun around in a circle and breathed fire. This made the dragon guards back off a bit. "C'mon lads!" The Captain said. "He's just one dragon!" Spike was immediately assaulted by maces, claws, teeth and swords. Spike tried his best to fight them all but knew it was futile. "Damn it..." Spike said as he dodged yet another mace strike. "I'll have to make a run for it." "Can't fight them all." Spike flew away from the chaos of the throne room and exited the cavern. Just as he left, he smashed a couple of stone pillars causing debris to block off the entrance. "I've gotta warn Twilight and the others." Spike said as he flew towards Ponyville.