> The Cave of Forbidden Love
>  by Yosh-E-O
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Cave of Forbidden Love
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Twilight," said Spike.  "I'd like to request a few days off."
"Time off?" asked Twilight.  "What for?"
"Personal reasons," replied Spike.
"What kind of 'personal reasons'?" asked Twilight.

"Can I have the time off, or not?" he insisted.
"Well," said Twilight.  "I suppose."
"Great!" exclaimed Spike as he picked up his supplies and charged towards the door.

"WAIT!" cried Twilight as she used her magic to teleport in front of Spike.  "What's this all about?"
"I," he said.  "I won't know until I see this through."
Twilight thought for a moment.
"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked.
"No," he replied firmly.  "This is something I and I alone must do."
Twilight watched as Spike exited the library.  She might've asked more questions.  However, Spike appeared determined and she knew there would be no stopping him.

Spike looked back towards Ponyville as he entered into the Everfree Forest.
"I'm sorry," he said with a wave.  "But, I must know and this is the only way I'll ever find out."
Spike held his head up high and entered into the depths of the forest.

The journey Spike was taking was one that he was surprised that Twilight had not caught him researching prior to requesting some time off..  Though, he was quite secretive when he went abut scanning the books in the library in which pertained to love stories and ways in which some pony could become some pony else.  Or, in his case, how some dragon could become the pony a certain, purple-maned unicorn would not be able to resist.
"The Amulet of Love's True Form," he said to himself while keeping himself observant for any impending dangers.  "An amulet that, when worn, turns its wearer into the one in which he or she most desires."

Spike ventured deeper-and-deeper into the Everfree Forest.  As he did, the forest canopy grew thicker-and-thicker and everything around him became darker-and-darker.
The young dragon used his fire breath to light a torch, which illuminated the overgrowth of the forest in an eerie, green light.
"I won't be scared," he said to himself.  "This is for Rarity.  No!  This is for us!"

Spike made his way deeper into the forest until the forest itself had completely blotted out the sun.  The only source of light now was his torch that now flickered around the outside of a deep, dark cave.
"This must be it," he said as a lump formed in his throat.  "The Cave of Forbidden Love."

The cave was even darker than a moonless night.  It was also as quiet as quiet could be.
Spike's heart pounded as only his torch, breathing, and footsteps could be seen or heard.  The cave was dead.  Lifeless.  As if it was never intended to be entered.  As if it were never intended to be left.

Spike felt his heart begin to pound out of his chest as his knees started to buckle.  This sensation grew only stronger as he proceeded further into the lifeless cave.
"No d-doubt that thi-this is the-the ra-right place," he stuttered.  
Spike felt his nerve fading.  He knew he was quite vulnerable and that day had certainly turned to night between his entering the cave and venturing into its depths.

Spike's teeth were chattering and he could barely keep his hands and feet steady by the time he came upon a large opening within the cave.
The dragon gasped upon hearing how the sound of his very breathing had begun to echo off the walls of the room.  The lump in his throat now beginning to make him feel sick as his instincts screamed for him to run for his life.

"Th-there," he said while taking a hesitant step forward.  "Th-that's ga-ga got to be i-it."
At the opposite end of the chamber, Spike could see his torchlight reflecting off of a jewel.  A jewel in which was attached to an eloquently designed amulet made of silver.

Spike's feet were frozen in place at the room's entrance.  His own breathing startling him as it grew faster and louder.  There was a chill in the air that just didn't feel right and he swore he could hear the sound of a heartbeat echoing about the room.
With a gulp, Spike eyed up his target and ran as fast as he could towards it.

"Got it!" he cried upon placing his hands upon the artifact.  "The Amulet of Love's True Form..  Just as Twilight's book described."
As Spike removed the amulet from its setting, he couldn't help but notice the sound of something clicking.  No.  Not clicking.  Flapping.

Spike looked out to the open chamber.  He didn't know if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but he swore he was seeing tiny, glowing, orbs beginning to fill into the room.
"Oh, oh, oh…" he gasped as his feet gave out and he fell upon his backside.
"Join us…" a voice whispered.  "Join us…"
"Who-who… who's there?" he called out while backing himself against the wall.

"Join us…" the voice whispered again.  "Join us…"
The whisper-like tone grew louder-and-louder and seemed to be coming from all directions.  The tiny, glowing orbs also seemed to fill the room with their eerie, pulsing light.

"Follow us…" the whispers called.  "Follow us to true love…"
Spike watched as the tiny, glowing orbs began to align themselves in a way that made a path to another opening in the room that didn't quite seem like the one he had entered through.
"Love…" the voices said.  "True love…"

Spike stood up and felt his worries begin to slip away.  The warmth of the pulsing orbs lulling him into a sense of security he had not felt since entering the cave.
"Oh," he said as he tightly gripped the amulet.  "Thank you,"

"Love…" the voices whispered.  "Eternal love…"
Spike felt compelled to follow the path of eerie lights.  However, something just didn't seem right.  
"Come…" the voices whispered.  "Eternal love awaits…"
Spike resumed walking in the direction the lights were guiding him.  They were so warm and inviting.  
"Love…" the voices whispered.  "Eternal love…"

"Oof!" Spike cried as he tripped on a rock.  This surprised him and caused him to belch out a torrent of fire breath.  
"WHA!" he cried as his fire breath lit the path he was about to head down.  Inside was a collection of various skeletons in which surrounded a most frightening looking, rune-covered panel that glistened with red sparkles.
"No…" the voices whispered as the orbs began to glow a frightening shade of red.  "No escape…"

Spike dashed as fast as he could towards where he believed the way he had come in was.  As he did, the pulsing, red light of the orbs began to illuminate the room in a way that even his worst nightmares couldn't have imagined.
"Love…" the voices cried.  "Your love…"
"NO!" cried Spike just before tripping again.  When he looked up, he felt the air leave his lungs as his eyes fixated on a dark, green-eyed, pony-like creature with fangs.
"Your love!" it said ferociously.  "You will give me all your love!"

Spike took to his feet.  The tattered pony was before him as the collection of red, pulsing lights made their way behind him.
"Waah!" he cried as he dashed past the mangled pony.
"Get him!" it hissed as the orbs gave chase.

Spike felt his legs burning as he pushed them to run like they had never ran before.  His eyes fixating on the path that he knew would surely guide him out.
"Spike!" cried a voice as a phantasmal unicorn appeared before him.  "Follow me!"
"Rarity?" he cried as he watched the ghostly, white and purple unicorn dash down the left tunnel where he now had to choose between going left, or right.

"Spikey-Wikey!" the unicorn called.  "Hurry!"
Spike's instincts told him to trust this pony.  So he did.
"After him!" the mangled pony cried.  "Don't let him escape!"

Spike ran for his life.  His body pouring with sweat as his eyes began to burn from how fixated he was on the phantasmal unicorn guiding him to wherever it was guiding him.
"Here!" she cried.  "Quickly!"
Spike pressed his feet to go faster than he has ever run before.  Soon, he was feeling grass under his feet instead of stone.  He had made it.

Looking back, Spike noticed the phantasmal, white and purple colored unicorn looking towards him.
"Spike," she said.  "May no one deny you your love."
The unicorn dashed back into the cave.  As it did, a great flash of red burst from the entrance that caused Spike to continue running as far away from it as he could.

Spike ran for what seemed like hours before he just fell to the ground.  However, the ground he had fallen upon was the backyard of their zebra friend, Zecora.
The backdoor opened.
"Something outside fell quite hard," she stated while looking about.  "There is a baby dragon in my yard!"

Feeling at peace, Spike's exhaustion caught up with him and he lost consciousness.  When he awoke, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, and Rarity were all standing before him as Zecora brought an herbal tea to his bed.
"Oh, Spike!" cried Twilight.  "We were so worried."
Spike sat up from the bed he was in.  His hand still firmly clenching onto The Amulet of Love's True Form.
"Much to tell, you do Spike," stated Zecora.  "But first, this drink, I hope you like."

Spike looked to Rarity and smiled.  She was wearing the fire ruby he had given her and she was looking towards him with perhaps the greatest amount of concern of the other six ponies present.  
"You have a lot of explaining to do," stated Twilight.
"now, now!" stated Rarity.  "This is not the time for ask questions!  My Spikey-Wikey is hurt and needs his rest!"
Twilight was at a loss for words as Spike took the tea, gently sipped from it, and smiled towards Rarity.  All the while thinking how her care for him now was a sure sign that his frightening experience would surely not be for nothing.

To be continued?