Winding through the quiet forest, flowing softly like a live ribbon of blue, a river trickled and crawled by the thickly, grown trees with roots twisted and crooked, their branches and lush green leaves barricading the view of the dim night sky. Sounds of soothing and calm splashes sang into the night, creating a world of tranquillity only for it to soon be disturbed. By the river that streamed gently, a white, blinding burst of light flashed for a second, materialising six ponies that suddenly appeared from the momentary light.
As their hooves felt the new ground, they all showed bewilderment to the sudden change in their surroundings. Most of them had to do a double-take. With uncertainty, Applejack and Fluttershy swung their heads and exchanged looks of confusion while Pinkie Pie appeared dazed, shaking her head and adjusting to the new area she had been teleported to. Slowly dropping her guard, Rainbow Dash whirled her head and surveyed the dark forest while Rarity shook away her disoriented look, regaining her focus.
"What the..." Rainbow Dash began. "What happened?"
"Where are we?" Fluttershy whispered, cautiously glancing around.
"Twilight teleported us," Pinkie Pie answered with a hint of confusion riding her voice, her eyes following the distant mountains where she could make out the ruined and invaded city of Canterlot.
"But why?" Rarity asked, slowly turning around and focusing her attention on the alicorn.
At this point, everyone followed the unicorn's movement and looked to the Princess of Friendship, seeing only her back.
Backing up Rarity, Rainbow Dash joined in, "Yeah, what's going on, Twilight? We could have taken him! We were so close! Why teleport us?"
The silence was deafening, it hung in the air uncomfortably as everyone waited for the alicorn to respond, but nothing came. Stretching thinner and thinner, the stillness became worrying and haunting. Breaking the silence, resisting to keep herself quiet any further, Applejack spoke.
"Twilight?'
Losing the strength in her legs, her head throbbing and spinning, growing disoriented, Twilight's eyelids slowly flickered until they sealed shut. Tired, exhausted and hurt, the alicorn drastically drained her energy and magic to the point where she couldn't stand. Dropping to the ground with a thump, like a ragdoll that was carelessly thrown away, everything grew dark and hazy for the young princess. Numbness and darkness took over, the sound of her friends' concerned voices is all she heard until the light quickly shut off in her head, losing consciousness.
"Twilight!"
All at once, they rushed to the collapsed alicorn in shock, huddling around her as they tried to wake the young princess, but failing in doing so.
"What happened?" Rainbow Dash demanded an explanation with desperation and concern coating her voice, worriment taking hold of her expression. "Is she alright?"
"She's not waking up!" Pinkie Pie shrieked, nudging the alicorn with her hooves.
"She's still breathing," Fluttershy examined, bringing some form of relief to her friends.
Arching a brow and whirling her head from left to right, Pinkie Pie looked at all of her friends with big, confused eyes, "So she just passed out?"
"It looks like it," Rarity answered, looking up from the alicorn. "After what happened back in Tartarus, she hasn't properly rested. The poor dear must have exhausted her energy from that spell, she did teleport us quite far." The unicorn said, rearing her head to the mountains behind her.
All of them took in the sight of the ruined and invaded city of Canterlot resting against the mountains in the distance. However, what haunted them the most was the sharp, nightmarish airship of the changelings, hovering over the palace like a rain cloud. Dread pushed against their backs, alarm crawled down their spine like a spider as they all looked at each other for guidance.
Frustration filling in her eyes, Rainbow Dash pushed herself from her friends and growled, "I can't believe this!" She said, stopping to the nearest tree, needing time to absorb the predicament she and her friends were in.
Everyone felt the pegasus' anger and disbelief, no one chose to rival her feelings. They all felt scared and sick to the core of their stomachs.
"At least we got a lot of ponies out of there," Applejack brought up, still putting her attention on the passed out alicorn. "Apple Bloom and her friends, the Cakes, a lot of ponies are gonna be safe at the empire. Granny Smith's gonna give me an earful when this is all over." The cowgirl chuckled, however, her expression was quick to sink into a look of gloom.
"But what do we do now?" Fluttershy asked with a hint of uneasiness crowding her face.
"I say we go back up there and fight!" Rainbow Dash rejoined the group. "We can't let them get away with this! The princesses, Shining Armour and a lot more ponies need our help!"
"What we need is a plan!" Rarity fired back, hoping to knock some sense into the pegasus. "We can't just walk back into Canterlot, we'll get caught!"
"What we need is a place to stay!" Pinkie Pie joined, making way between the two.
Managing to lift the weakened, limp alicorn onto her back, Applejack steadied herself and turned to her friends, "Pinkie's right. We can't stay out here all night and we need to make sure Twilight's okay. Let's find somewhere safe until she wakes up. Then, we'll make a plan and go back to Cantertlot."
"But where do we go?" Rarity questioned, bringing her hooves up to her trembling mouth, surveying the forest in fear. "Where can we go? Canterlot's been invaded by the changelings and those vicious Diamond Dogs have taken Ponyville!" Upon bringing up the Diamond Dogs, the tone in her voice shifted from upset to disgust.
With an idea sparking in her head, a moment of cheer lifted from Pinkie's face as she smiled brightly, "We can stay at the Castle of the Two Sisters! That place has gotta be empty, you know, with it sitting within the Everfree Forest and all."
"But to get there, we have to go through Ponyville," Fluttershy wistfully added with a shiver. "What if the Diamond Dogs spot us?"
"Don't worry about that," Rainbow Dash eased, waving her hoof. "Zercora showed me and Twilight a hidden route when we went to go get her. We can go that way instead, that way we'll be undiscovered."
Doubtful of Pinkie's choice in location, Rarity hiked a brow, "How do we know for certain that the castle hasn't already been taken?"
"We don't," Applejack told softly. "But what other choice do we have? We need somewhere safe to stay until Twilight's back on her hooves. Then we'll make a plan and save Canterlot. Is everypony ready?"
The cowgirl looked around, receiving only nods from her friends.
"Alright then." She said. "Rainbow, considerin' you've already been down this hidden route to the Everfree Forest, you lead the way."
Determined, Rainbow Dash smiled, "Got it." Smoothly, the pegasus began to direct herself through the trees, her hooves gliding through the grass with each step.
One by one, they all followed the cyan pony's lead and journeyed through the cluster of bulky trees. First Rainbow Dash, then Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack and finally Rarity. Out cold, aching in her head and bones, Twilight remained weak and limp on the cowgirl's back, being taken to safety.
None of them felt good about leaving Canterlot to the changelings, not when the princesses along with those unfortunate enough to get caught needed saving. Despite their worrying thoughts crowding their goal, they all wondered why their friend teleported them when they were so close. They knew it was pointless to ask now, not until she woke up.
Anchored to the invaded city of Canterlot and hovering lifelessly above like a balloon, Chrysalis' airship remained something out of a nightmare.
In the flying fortress of the changelings, the walls around Starlight failed to hold any sort of comfort. It felt like they were closing in on her, screaming out to the captured apprentice. Dark, empty and cold, the room kept the same silence ever since The Hunter had left. The unicorn kept herself crouched in the corner, looking traumatised, deflated of life and defeated with overwhelming thoughts of what happened to her friend.
With wide, round eyes, refusing to look up from the floor, Starlight sniffled and teared up, remembering everything about how Spike acted behind the mask. He was mad, unstable, hurt and the only way for him to feel better was if Twilight shared his pain. The trembling in his frustrated voice and his eye rapidly blinking in a sea of crimson only added more weight to the sorrow she felt for him.
Despite the sadness that consumed her, she couldn't deny the feeling of fear that stuck around the moment he left. He was different. Although, what struck Starlight with intense fear was his hate for Twilight. He was her best friend, her assistant and now, he loathed her more than anything. With the way he was going on about wanting her to suffer didn't sound anything like the dragon she knew, but sadly, she couldn't deny the harsh reality behind The Hunter's mask.
"Something scaring you?"
Snapping out of her world of thoughts, pulled back to reality, Starlight whipped her head to her left and noticed a figure standing behind the bars. How long had he been standing there? When did he arrive? Hearing the sudden but cold and lifeless voice, she wanted to retreat, but seeing how there was nowhere to run, the unicorn stood up from her position and hardened a glare, wiping away all fear from her face.
Taking in the familiar appearance of his stitched face that took refuge under his hood, Starlight took a moment but responded with a growl, "What did you do to him?" Suddenly, a flow of anger rushed to her face and voice, this time shouting, "What did you do to him?!"
Tilting his head to the side, Fright remained unfazed by her prisoner's sudden burst in anger. Observing her behind the bars, he spoke with a hint of interest, "So you know of his identity. I must admit, I am quite surprised The Hunter sees you differently compared to the rest that wronged him. What is it that he sees in you?" He asked, bringing a hand up to his chin.
"His name is Spike!" She bared her teeth as anger and annoyance pumped through her blood.
"As long as he wears that mask, he is nothing of the servant you remember," Fright said, peering closer behind the bars.
"He's not a servant!" Starlight barked. "He's my friend! Now answer me! What did you do to him!" Nearly face to face with Fright, she stared intently at the alchemist with fiery eyes, demanding an answer.
The unicorn could practically hear the smirk stretch across his disarrayed face, "I made him see." He answered. "After realising no one was coming for him, my concoctions made him scream day and night. His worst fears plagued his senses, mind and soul, until... That fear took shape and form."
"Fearing the worst and seeing how everyone he cared for forgot about him and moved on," Fright continued, taking immense satisfaction from the agonized look on Starlight's face. "His fears convinced him it was for the best that he forgot who he was as well. I gave him a new identity, a mask, a name to be remembered! Soon, The Hunter will get his reward and watch the alicorn suffer, then, she will die by his hand."
In defiance, Starlight stiffened her neck and protested through the bars with a snarl, "You're wrong! Despite that you've brainwashed and tormented him with your fear spells, Spike will never hurt Twilight or the rest of his friends. You can think that he's your weapon, but in the end, he stopped Chrysalis from hurting me. Behind all the madness you inflicted upon him, the Spike I know is still there."
"Hmm," Fright hummed to himself, marvelling at the unicorn caged before him. "You are quite defiant, aren't you? I don't think we are all that different."
"Don't you dare compare yourself to me!" She fired back. "I am nothing like you! You don't know a thing about me!"
"Whispers from the dark tell otherwise." Eerily, the stitches around his mouth stretched and made way for his unpleasant grin. "All those months, terrified, broken and abandoned, Spike told me nothing but the truth about you and the rest of your cowardly friends."
Upon hearing this, Starlight's expression dropped from her face.
Mechanically, Fright grasped the cold bar of Starlight's cell, bringing his head closer, "Where I take interest in fears, you were once obsessed with equality. Deceiving and brainwashing your friends to seek power. You used fear to keep them under your control. Admit it, it felt good to keep them broken and scared, and that's what terrifies you the most." Surprisingly, his dead eyes gleamed with interest. "You aren't just afraid of who you once were, you're afraid that you can relate to me. When the time comes, maybe you'll end up worse than me."
Taking a step back, averting her gaze for a moment, Starlight looked back up at the deadpan eyes of the alchemist and frowned, "You're right. I am afraid."
Still keeping his strident smile, Fright looked down at his prisoner, feeling a wave of amusement when hearing her confession.
"But you're also wrong." She quickly continued, sounding stern. "While I may be afraid of who I once was or that I can relate to you, I know I won't end up worse than what you are now. I have friends, friends who have been loyal to me, kind, honest, generous, friends who have made me laugh and shared magic with me. So yeah, I am afraid of who I once was, but I know I won't become a monster like you."
"You sound so certain," Fright breathed coldly. "All it takes is one nightmare of a day and then, madness takes you. Just look at Spike."
The anger had been seated within Starlight for a while now. It was almost as if the rage was trying to break through her eyes and teeth, however, she kept her glare strong when he mentioned her hurt friend.
Noting her silence, the alchemist continued, "Fear defines who we really are, Starlight, and fear is the future!"
"And what about you?!" She pointed. "What are you afraid of?"
With another short, lifeless and quiet laugh, Fright stared at the unicorn, "True, everyone has fears and I am no exception. However, that feeling of dread and horror rattling your bones was robbed from me when I witnessed terror's true face. My face. There is nothing to fear but fear itself, and now, I am fear."
"You said all it takes is one nightmare of a day and then, madness takes you." At first, Starlight looked hesitant to continue, her words stopping in her throat until she forced them out. "Dare I ask, what happened that day? What made you so deranged and sadistic? What made you turn against the world?"
"The day I became what I am now is thanks to Equestria's deceitful and cowardice leader." He answered. "Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, the creatures that are now roaming free from Tartarus, they are all connected to Celestia. All of the monsters and demons that plague this land, they were wronged and created because of her, and that's what terrifies her..." Eerily, Fright lowered his head to the protégé and whispered, "Sometimes, even creators fear their creations."
Slowly, the alchemist straightened himself up and began walking to the exit, leaving a puzzled, but enraged Starlight locked behind bars.
"I wouldn't get too comfortable either," Fright told. "You're being moved."
Throwing herself up, the unicorn stammered, "What! Where?"
"Canterlot." He answered, buried beneath his stitches, a grin grew. "It's time for the world to see what true fear is. We are going to give Equestria a show."
facing down a pissed off alicorn is something to be scared of, don't think I didn't read aout you getting scared which facing a pissed off twilight_sparkle at tartarus.
On another note, that foreshadowing isn't going to turn out well for starlight.
And that is the most ominous statement a villain can ever make, and now makes me wonder if history's about to repeat itself.
9997756
Yeah but Fright should be aware bout one little thing; remember Spike/Hunter has promised no harm will come to Starlight, and he’ll do anything to keep his promise.
Even if it meant turning on Fright and Chrysalis.
So in my opinion, both sides; good guys and bad guys - are both fuck’d.
9998850
that had completely slipped my mind, but does intrigue me as to what could possibly happen if they force him to go back on his word.
9999039
He did he is “his own master“. So really he doesn’t give a crap about anyone’s commands.
9999226
my thinking at the time was that Hunter is not currently around to ensure that they won't do anything to Starlight since he's hunting Twilight and co. If he came back and fount out that they did something to hurt someone he gave his word that no harm would come to them. It could cause problems for Chrysalis and Fright who Starlight was starting to get a reaction out of while probing for info, you poke someone enough and they end up snapping, especially if she tried this with Chrysalis.
Probably overthinking this, since they seem to be competent villains.
9999340
We’ll just wait and see
9921994
I wonder if pony Jameson has anything to say to Fright.
I just don't have it in me anymore.
“Time’s up, Twilight. Where is Spike?”Twilight: “I couldn’t save him. I mean, I tried! But I can’t—““No more EXCUSES!!”Rainbow Dash: “Hey! Give us a break! We just got attacked by the Hunter and the Changelings, and we’ve lost all of our friends!”“YET you continue to roam freely in Equestria. The cowards you all are! Now Equestria is in ruins because of you!”Rainbow: “It wasn’t our idea to retreat! Twilight teleported us out! I wanted to fight! I’M NOT A COWARD! AHH!”Fluttershy: “RAINBOW DASH!!”Twilight: “No! Look, I told you, I’m sorry! I know what I did was wrong, and I’m sorry for it! But please, give more time and I’ll find Spike!”“NO! No more times! I’ve had enough of your lies!”Twilight: “I’m sorry, but please! Give me more time and I‘ll save him! I promise!”“You’ve already promised. And you broke it!”Another voice: “Stop! This won’t bring Spike back!”“...why do you insist on prolonging our torment?!”Another voice: “I’m trying to save us! Don’t give into hate!”“Twilight Sparkle must see justice! Her cancer and Fright’s disease has infected Spike for too long!”Another voice: “Fright is the real villain! Twilight Sparkle deserves true justice! She won’t see it unless you stop!”“I’ll never stop!”Well, as pleased as I am to see how Spike turned out in the future of the show, I still want to see how this story will end.
And I’ll wait eagerly and patiently for the chapter when the Hunter reveals himself to the ponies’ horrors.
Within you – David Bowie
https://youtu.be/tKJkgawDfEk
Meanwhile
(Dragon Lord Ember was sleeping in her cave, when she was stirred awake by a voice.)
"Dragon Lord Ember."
Ember: "Huh? What? What's going on?"
"I have terrible news for you, from Equestria. Seems a friend that you and King Thorax both shared and valued is in deep trouble. Princess Twilight and her friends have searched, but they've abandoned Spike to the slaughter. I trust you won't have trouble finding him, your lordship. Bring his torture to a swift end. I beg of you."
10101508
Makes you wonder what Ember or Thorax would say to her?
"So close to humiliating yourself again. The Hunter knows every moves you make, every tactics, every weaknesses. You're just the same. Rushing headlong into danger, without taking the moment to come up the simplest of strategy for victory. It might've worked for you then, when you had Spike. But things have CHANGED now, so you need to CHANGE ALONG WITH IT! SPIKE IS NOT HERE! NOW YOU EITHER FIGHT SMART AND SECURE YOUR VICTORY, OR CRASH AND SIGN YOURSELF TO EARLY RETIREMENT BY THE HUNTER'S CLAWS!"
"My patience is wearing thin, and it's sickening that I've forgotten completely who I'm speaking to. You don't care about Spike, you never do!"
Rainbow: "Stop it!"
"You don't even care if he's dead or alive."
Rainbow: "No!"
"You only care about satisfying your pride, and you think the only way to salvage it is to take down the Hunter."
Rainbow: "No, no, NO! You think I don't care?! I want to fight because I wanted to save Spike!"
"The only one saving Spike are the ones who truly CARES! And that's NOT you! You've had your chances. Now stay out and let some REAL help end his suffering! It's obvious, you needed a dragon to find a dragon, something YOU didn't bothered considering from the START!"
Rainbow: "What? Ember? But– Okay, okay. She can find Spike. But I can...WE CAN–"
"You'll do NOTHING!"
Rainbow: "WHAT? Be we have to do SOMETHING!"
"Like what? Botch another plan and doom all of Equestria because of your recklessness? Abandon your mission, just like how you abandoned Spike and Dinky? You need to wake up! Get a grip on yourselves on REALITY! You're still alive, aren't you? Equestria has more than one problem now than just a missing dragon. Don't waste your time chasing a dragon you can't even save let alone remember."
Rainbow: "B-But... Spike's our friend! We have to save him!"
"You want to save someone? Here's a mission for you! There's an old lady's cat, stuck up in a tree! Maybe if you're lucky, you won't screw that up and maybe all of Equestria can forgive you! GOOD LUCK!"
Nightmares plagued the deepest consciousness of Twilight's mind. A disembodied voice is heard
Twilight: "Where? Where am I? What is this place?"
"Go to sleep, my little pony. This story will be over soon. And at long last, after what felt like four moons, Spike will at last be free from his torment."
Twilight: "You... you know where Spike is? Tell me if you do."
"If it was important for you to know, then I would've told you."
Twilight: "It IS important. I have to find him! I have to save him!"
"Save him, huh? Steady there, Tony Stark. There are some professionals who can handle this type of fight."
Twilight: "If you're going to say Thorax, or Ember, then I completely agree with you, but why can't I–"
"Isn't it obvious? Fright is clearly out of your leagues. You couldn't save Manehatten, you couldn't control your teammates, you let Fluttershy thrust herself into the fog of fear, you failed to stop a prison breakout in Tartarus, and if it wasn't enough, your biggest screw up would have to be losing Dinky to the changelings, so it's clear, you're not going to save Spike anytime soon."
Twilight: "But I have to! He's my friend!"
"That says a lot, since you're the one who called the search off a few months back. Don't bother sugarcoating it."
Twilight: "One! ONE TIME! I called the search off, because I thought Spike–Okay, fine! I messed up! But please! Let me save him! I have to make things right!"
"No! Look, forget about Fright. Forget the Changelings, you've already done enough! Let the real pros take it from here. After that, you can spend the next 18 months or so, cleaning up your mess WITHOUT Spike's assistance. And then maybe you can start making amends then."
Still, I would've loved to see the chapter where the Mane Six all exchanged genuine apologies to Spike, making vows on how they can move forward from all the events, and how the ponies can be better friends for Spike, while the young dragon continues to rebuff their apologies. And let's not forget the mess they've made of things that they'll be cleaning up afterwards. Though, since the mess was started by Twilight and the girls in the first place, they'll be the ones to clean it up, while Spike should go off on a relaxing vacation in the Dragon Land. Call it rehabilitation for him.
In the meantime, from EMositeCC with love:
images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/c9ee51e9-8ff0-4319-a976-4e7265523f0d/ddqqfij-fbbbf334-82b9-4f96-b8db-ca6469619ac4.png/v1/fill/w_894,h_894,q_70,strp/i_still_love_him_by_emositecc_ddqqfij-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTI4MCIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2M5ZWU1MWU5LThmZjAtNDMxOS1hOTc2LTRlNzI2NTUyM2YwZFwvZGRxcWZpai1mYmJiZjMzNC04MmI5LTRmOTYtYjhkYi1jYTY0Njk2MTlhYzQucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEyODAifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.cSdt53wX87SQ7ew8y0wsArSTuwtN_pHoXUhJ26WUASE
Where's 51? March 11, 21, any ones would be nice please.
Raising her Bloodstone Scepter, Ember concentrates her focus into its power before she calls out, “Show me Equestria,” She commanded.
At first, she saw nothing. But than, an image materialized before her, showing her Equestria. Or what’s left of it, as it was being overrun by Diamond Dogs, monsters she has never seen before from Tartarus, and Garble and his fellow rogue dragons, running rampant, looting, and breaking abandoned cities to gather up their spoils.
The young Dragon Lord clenched her fist in frustrating, seething venomously, to see several insubordinate dragons had defied her orders, and for how long? She will be certain to deliver judgement upon them. But she remembered she has a more urgent matter to attend.
“Where is Spike?” The image changed itself into a fearsome image of nightmare. “No! It can’t be!”
Twilight: "D-D-Dragon Lord Ember! W-What–"
Ember: "What I wanted to know is... why wasn't I told that Spike was missing, and that you little ponies abandoned him?"
Twilight: "I didn't abandon him! Not on purpose!"
Ember: "Oh really? So was it an accident that you let him drown in a lake of cold waters and laughed at him? Was it an accident that you replaced him with another child of your species?"
Twilight: "That's not what happened! You have every right to be mad at me, but please, I beg of you to save, Spike! I want him back!"
Ember: "You don't deserve to have him back. And they say you're the smart one? You knew I have the power to find Spike, but you didn't bother coming to me in the first place. Even if I can find and save him now, why should I bring him back to you, when he could be more happier with me, and the rest of us in Dragon Land?"
Twilight: "I'm sorry... I didn't want to bother you. But now, I need help."
Ember: (rolls her eyes) "Of course, you need help. You always needed help. You couldn't even stand up and fight against the Hunter. And it's always about you. You never thought Spike needed help."
Twilight: "No! That's not what I'm saying! I–"
Ember: "ENOUGH TALK! Just stay where you are, for all I care... I'll find Spike. And I'll save him. Then he can come and live with me and the rest of the dragons. And you can forget him for as long as you'd like."
May I please have an update on when the next chapter is coming out?
10159962
Hello! I haven't gave up on this story. I'm unsure of when the next update will be, things have been hectic and exhausting on my side, but this story is not cancelled, that I assure you. Thanks for reading!
10171617
But seriously, Virtual. We can wait. Real life is more important.
9992425
Whoah! That actually gave a bit of a chill to my spine, Nice!
I have read this story, 3 times. It's the BEST story i've ever read on this site. Keep up the good work!
Please continue! This is great stuff!
Half a year has passed and still no update... But I'll keep waiting.
I Believe – Christina Perri
J. Pony Jameson: "With the entire country of Equestria quarantined, there are a lot of scared ponies out there. Here's one. You're on the air."
"They're turning back boats to the mainland! All bridges and tunnels are closed! Airships are grounded! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are all captured by the Changelings! Prince Shining Armor and his troops have retreated to the Crystal Empire in the Frozen North, and Princess Twilight and her Elements of Harmony have gone missing! They're leaving us here to die, aren't they?"
J. Pony Jameson: "Calm down, caller. I've always been the voice of reason, so listen to me now. I know, from my vast networks of contacts, that the National Disease Centre is working on an antiserum for Fright's fear toxin. We had one victim of Fright's affliction, and not surprisingly, it's Fluttershy. But, Ponyville's resident zebra, Zecora, has confirmed that one of her potions was tested positive for a potential antidote. A cure IS COMING. But the question is how long will it take... Will it get here in time? But we've been through tough spots before, and we'll get through this too."
"They'll never finish the cure in time for us! They're writing us off! Equestria's a graveyard!"
J. Pony Jameson: "Not true! The NDC is doing what they can. If they're busy dealing with outbreaks around all over the country – or the world - that's less time they have to work on the antiserum. I know it's hard to trust anyone these days. But you have always been able to trust me to tell it like it is, and I am telling you now: Do not violate the quarantine. Stay in your homes, take care of your families. I'll be right here facing it with you. We're Equestrians. We can handle anything, and we can sure as hell beat this."
This fic makes more sense than the entire series put together!
Hey V.C I've been reading your fic and here's my honest opinion. It always pissed me off when seeing Spike going through all the horrible shit everypony else put him through, I've just really wished to see a Spike fic on this site that both really expresses what Spike's been through and how he feels but tells a great story at the same time. And this story you've NAILED IT! This is fantastic and has just about everything I could ask for in a Spike fic and then some. What I'm trying to say is, please don't let this fic slip I'm freaking loving it, this is my No.1 story on this site. That's all. Keep smiling! :)
Please give us something, or at least a blog update! i really hope this awesome fic isnt cancelled!
10429126
I just think he might be taking a break. He'll update when he can.
Please, whoever is writing this story please finish it when you can. This story has been great, deep, and suspenseful. I would hate to see a great story go unfinished.
10435896
Don't worry! he's just taking a break. He'll maybe be back around 2021, or maybe as an early "Christmas present" he'll give us an new chapter. We just have to have patience, real life is more important also.
8848029
What do you mean?
10309468
How?
Scared of the Dark · Lil Wayne · Ty Dolla $ign · XXXTENTACION
10567547
Nice!
10532979
It just goes to show that Hasbro is more into merchandizing then storytelling these days.
I've been following this story for a while now and finished it last year, and there's one thing that's always irked me with spike, he's not a saint it seems he has choices of what he wants to do when he became the hunter. I guess, I fully understand what happened to him at the start of the story, he is a baby dragon and a simple thing as forgetting a child, and replacing him and giving up so soon to look for him. I really don't know if Twilight would even do that she went all the way to the dragon lands and followed him the whole way with rarity.
and adding on top of the torture what fear has done to him and the lies he put into spike's head, But He said he didn't and wouldn't hurt Flurry, Cadence, and I can't remember who else. I would say that's a bit hypocritical knowing that he helped Fear and chrysalis let out all of the demons in Tartarus, now all of Equestria is nothing but a monster roaming deathtrap and is a posing threat to not only to Equestria but other continents.
but knowing thanks to discord he saved all the animals in Equestria. I can't remember, I think it was only the animals. In that case I really like the flaw's the characters have and bear, did they screw up? yes, but can they can fix it, if some are willing to forgive and learn from their mistakes.
Other then that rant, I really do enjoy the story and can't wait for more of it.
10171617
(Speaking to Spike)
Z