> Season Spike
>  by Haoryu Changer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> [Dark Magic Arc: Part 1] The Argument
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia's glorious bright sun was beginning to rise as the residents of Equestria start waking from their sleep. Well... most of them were.  

1:00 pm - Golden Oak Library

"Twilight, you up yet?" A voice called out from the first floor of the Golden Oaks Library.

Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's great student, slept in for nearly six hours today, and the night before she left a big pile of books waiting for Spike when he woke up. Of course, he had to put them all back on the shelves in their respective places, and without magic, it was really difficult, especially for the heavier books, and what's worse is that Twilight didn't even wake up for the hot delicious breakfast that Spike made just for her. That's just to say, he's really grumpy at the moment.

After a few moments of waiting, Spike heard some steps coming from the floor above.

"Spike?" A voice said back, the speaker revealing herself seconds later. "Oh, good morning!" She yawned. "Gosh, I had a great sleep."

"Good morning Twi, I made some breakfast for you, some waffles, your favorite!" Spike said happily, oblivious to what time did to the waffles he made and hiding his grumpiness.

Twilight stepped into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Spike stood beside her seat. She noticed the waffles, thanked Spike and took a bite. 

Spike could tell she didn't like it just by looking at the confused expression on her face and the lack of chewing. He also knew that it wasn't his fault. He made the waffles at 7 o' clock, usually when Twilight wakes up. And because she slept in for hours after her usual wake up time it got cold. She really shouldn't be complaining. She even told Spike to leave her be when he tried to wake her up earlier when the waffles were still warm.

"Spike?" She looked at her assistant with a troubled look. "Um... the waffles are kinda cold and soggy."

Spike frowned. "You woke up late, not me."

"Well, you did wake up late..." He muttered to her in a frustrated tone.

She stared at him with furrowed brows and blinked. She didn't look mad, but upset.

He sighed. "I guess I can go make some more."

So the dragon began to make his way to the kitchen, with a mission to make some more waffles for his friend.

Twilight smiled in delight and trotted off to the library. And started to take many books off the shelves and of course, started to read—or in her case—study. She started to make the pile of books she had left yesterday, this might even break the record.

1:20 pm 

Twilight was still reading when Spike called out from the kitchen. "Twilight! I'm done making the waffles!"

"Okay, coming!" Twilight closed the book she was currently on and went to the kitchen. When she entered and spotted Spike with an apron on and a spoon held in his claw, she inhaled deeply with her nostrils. "Ah..." She started, drunk off the smell in the room. "These do smell delicious. Thanks, Spike!"

The Baker felt proud but then noticed something. "Hey, Twi? Don't you have to go to Sweet Apple Acres to meet our friends? Shouldn't you get ready?"

Twilight looked at the time and almost choked on her food when she saw it was almost 1:30 pm. 

"Oh sweet Celestia! I forgot!" She yelled when she swallowed her food.

Spike had seen Twilight rush through her food before, but not nearly as fast as this. He watched with his mouth agape as Twilight used her magic to cut down and eat her waffles, close to three bites a second. As soon as she finished eating, she ran upstairs to pack some things. Seconds later she was finished and was on her way to the front door.  

"Thanks, Spike, can you clean up the library before I get back thanks!" She said too quickly for Spike's taste. 

She exited and slammed the door shut, leaving a big mess and an irritated Spike behind.


11:00 pm

It was one hour from midnight, Spike was finally finished cleaning up the mess that Twilight made and was done his everyday chores. He was supposed to go out and have some fun today. He had plans. But now it was much too late to go out and have fun.

The front door of the library opened and Twilight stepped in. "Spike? Hello? I'm back!"

Spike appeared from upstairs. He had an angry expression on his face, his anger pointed to Twilight 

Twilight was blind to his expression, started speaking to him. "Oh Spike, I had the best day ever!" She said, starting to pace around and look everywhere but at him, as if she was watching a replay of her day. "First, we went to Applejack's farm and had a picnic."

"Picnic, huh? Must have been fun." Spike thought bitterly.

"Then we went to the park and saw all our other friends like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Snips and Snails, the Apple family, Ms. Cheerilee and the rest of her class, the Cakes..." 

She paused for a moment, and for some reason, Spike had a hopeful expression behind her, still at the stairs. "Most of Ponyville actually," She said, Spike changing his expression to shock. "And we had a party out in the Town Square!"

"Wait... a party?"

"Courtesy of Pinkie, she is a fast party planner. You should have been there. Oh, it was so-"

"You had a party? I-I should have been there?!" Spike said in disbelief.

"Well yeah, that's what I said silly," Twilight said while smiling innocently.

"How could you say that? You're the one who made me stay here."

"What do you mean Spike? You could've come if you wanted. You said you had plans for today and I'm sure if you were around you could have joined the party."

"How could you say that?!" Spike yelled in anger, shocking the purple alicorn. "You left me here, with a mess that you made. Yes, I had plans today, but you had to make a really big mess like you did last night, and if I hadn't cleaned it up you would have gotten angry at me! Now, here you are, telling me that I should have been there?! My day was ruined thanks to you!"

Twilight looked confused as she stared at her assistant on the stairs. "What are you talking about, Spike?" 

"Like I just said, I was stuck here after you left me to clean up your mess!" He explained with fury.

"You're my number one assistant remember? You have to do these type of things." Twilight told.

"I assist you Twi, not pick up after you." Spike tried to tell. "I shouldn't have to do all these things anyway! I choose to do these things because I love you."

"Oh, come on Spike, this is your job."

"A-a Job?" He said with wide eyes. "Is that... all I am to you? Your assistant? I thought of you as my older sister and... that's all you think I am? An assistant!"

Twilight realed back in surprise towards Spike's outburst.

Spike's voice began to get louder as he went on with his rant. "How is this a job? I don't get paid, I work more than I should, I'm a kid, or "baby" for Celestia's sake!"

"I live with you, we're supposed to be equals. I always try my best to take care of you and keep you well. But you get to have all the fun with your friends while I'm here picking up after you. What am I, a... a slave?"

Twilight was shocked at hearing those words coming out of her friend's mouth, 'slave' being one of the winners. "Spike, I'm sorry can we just-"

"No!" Spike cut her off. "You always say you're sorry, and it always comes back to this. This always happens Twilight, and when I do come with you to go somewhere, I just get abused!"

"You don't get abus-"

"You've never even noticed, have you?!"

"Spike you're being ridiculous. We have never done something as horrible as abusing you!" 

"Oh really?" Spike said questionably. "Remember that time when you didn't know how to help out with the winter wrap up? When you found out that you were good at organizing, and I helped you organize with the winter wrap up? I got tired from all the WORK, and I fell asleep on a melting ice block above freezing water! You of all ponies should know that I'm cold blooded; I can't survive in cold temperatures. One of you girls could have got me off of it, you could have used your magic to levitate me off of it, but no, neither of you cared!"

"That was just one little joke. I didn't know that really hurt you, we were kidding around." Twilight said, trying to be understanding.

"Kidding around? Kidding around?! You girls just laughed and left me there, I got a cold that could have been prevented, I could have gotten seriously hurt! How is that a JOKE?"

Twilight noticed that Spike was right. It was freezing water after all.

"That's not all, remember when you moved your birthday party to Canterlot because of Rarity, I didn't know until you came back to Ponyville and told me yourself. I guess I don't count as a friend, I guess I am just your assistant? Do you know how I felt when I noticed I wasn't invited to my best friend's birthday party! We knew each other for so long, but you never invited me to your own birthday party?!"

Twilight sounded shocked at hearing that, had she really forgotten to invite Spike to her birthday party in Canterlot? How didn't she noticed? Spike is her friend, her very best friend.

"Remember Pinkie's birthday? You had a party for her, but you didn't invite me! What? Am I not her friend either? Just another worker?" 

"What about Pinkie's sister? You've never even introduced me to her!"

Twilight tried to remember if she ever introduced Maud to Spike. Maybe Spike just forgot they met? Twilight couldn't remember Spike being there, though.

"Rainbow Dash always makes fun of me for not being a 'real, strong, tough' dragon! How come you never stand up for me? I'd expect the pony who I think as my SISTER to stand up for me, but she doesn't!"

Twilight thought. "Spike thought of me as a... a sister? I mean we're close, but I didn't know that he thought of me in such a way?"

"Remember the Grand Galloping Gala? I thought it would be best if we could spend time together, but all of you did your own things!"

Spike was right. If Twilight and her friends just listened to Spike and partied together as friends, they would have had a great time.

"Guess what? You all ended up realizing that the best thing we could do was spending time with each other, the thing that I thought of beforehoof! I had the worst time at that party because I was so lonely. I-I've always been so lonely..." Spike began to be teary-eyed.

"Spike's been lonely this whole time? H-How couldn't I have noticed?" Twilight thought. 

"Spike I-I didn't know. You could have told me how you felt." Twilight said.

"I tried... I tried to tell you, I tried, but you wouldn't listen. You would just go off with your friends and leave me behind. When you do listen, you just say sorry and then it goes back to me being neglected."

"Fine, I will listen this time. I'm sorr-"

"No, you'll never listen! Ever since we came to Ponyville you spent time with your new friends and forgot about me!"

"That's silly Spike, I never forgot about you."

"So what's the last thing we did together Twilight? What's the last thing we did together for fun?"

Twilight put a hoof to her chin. "We... uh..."

"That's right, you can't remember. I remember the last time we had fun... When we were little, you and I would play together. You would read stories to me, we would bond together as friends. Now you have these new friends, and now I'm just an assistant."

"Spike, I thought of you no less from then 'till now."

"Then why don't we do things together anymore? Why do you use me? I lived with you in Canterlot for so long, and now that we are in Ponyville, I just work and get hurt."

"Okay Spike enough, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. You seem just the same to me. Maybe you need to see the doctor?"

"Did you even hear what just I said?!"

"Spike, this conversation is going to end now!" Twilight said sternly.

"I was right... You're not going to listen. You're just going to make me your slave!" A tear ran down Spike's cheek.

"Spike, why are you crying?" Twilight said annoyed.

"Fine, I'll just never come back, I'm not going to be your slave!" Spike sobbed.

Spike opened the door, and ran out of the library crying, as Twilight watched him.

"Oh, he'll come back to his senses later."
 
> A Missing Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

2:00 am - Golden Oaks Library

It's been 3 hours and Spike hasn't returned home yet. It has been the latest Spike has been out without Twilight or anypony in the matter of fact. 

Twilight was sitting in front of the fireplace drinking hot chocolate, waiting for Spike to come home. She noticed a very particular picture on the top of the fireplace, Twilight gripped the picture with her magic and brought it to herself in concern. She gave a warm smile when she saw the picture, it was her with her 5 friends.



Twilight started to remember when she first came to Ponyville. She didn't want to focus on making new friends, but to defeat Nightmare Moon. And in the end, it was friends that were needed to overcome the power of Nightmare Moon.

Twilight noticed something. She felt as if there was something missing in the picture. She couldn't make it out, was it the other princesses? Her wings? She couldn't tell what was missing until something that Spike said before he left came into mind.


11:00 pm - Earlier Today

"No, just no, don't talk to me! Ever since we came to Ponyville you spent time with your new friends and forgot about me!"


2:20 am - Back In the Present

"Oh... Spike is missing in the picture." Twilight said sadly.




DAY 2

1:00 pm - Golden Oaks Library

"Twilight! Ah've come to return a book for ya! Twilight?" Applejack has been calling out in the library for a minute now. "Maybe she isn't home right now. But ah would've seen her outside, and why does the library say 'open' if she's not here? And where's Spike? Shouldn't he, at least, be here? 

Applejack got concerned for her friend so she started to look around. Applejack first searched the kitchen, she saw the big mess that someone left behind. Spike would clean it later she thought. She then went upstairs to see if she was still sleeping. Twilight did sleep in yesterday according to all the talk about the "best sleep" at the party yesterday. Applejack went upstairs and opened the door to her bedroom slowly in case she was sleeping, she wouldn't want to wake her up. She checked the bed and she wasn't there, so Applejack went back downstairs and checked the other rooms. She was going to check the library first since she would most likely be studying. But then she came across the Fireplace. She was so relieved to see Twilight sitting there.  

"Oh thank goodness ah found ya Twilight, ah came to return the book ah borrowed the other day. Ah called out to ya but there was no answer, ah got worried so ah came searching for ya."

There was no response. Twilight looked like a statue staring at the fireplace. 

"Twilight? Is there something wrong?"

There was still no response.

Applejack waved her hoof in front of Twilight's face. Still, no response. 

She then got an idea. She got the book she brought back and waved it in front of Twilight. "Look Twilight, a book."

Twilight still didn't respond.

Applejack saw that this was serious and got worried. She started to shake Twilight. "Twilight! What's wrong! Tell me!"

Twilight didn't snap out of it.

Applejack saw a picture on the floor and picked it up. She looked at it and saw her 5 friends. Then she realized what Twilight needed the most, her friends. "Don't worry Twilight, ah'll be back with the others and we'll get you back ta normal." Applejack ran out the Library to find her friends.

1:20 pm - Canterlot Castle - Throne Room

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were sitting in the throne room. The guards were guarding the outside of the doorway, leaving the two sister Princesses to talk to each other. Usually, Princess Luna would be asleep right now, but today was their special day, to have some fun as they don't get to do it so often. Not fun as in playing in the garden, or playing games, but as two sisters bonding. 

"The little filly was having nightmares. Not only that, she was very afraid of her idle Rainbow Dash, thinking of her as a weakling. But in the end, it all turned out alright because she realized that one of the bravest things to do is to confess your true feelings."

"That's great Luna, only you could help out with something like that, I'm very proud!" Celestia gave a warm smile.

Luna blushed. "Aww, you're just saying that, the great sun Princess, my older sister, proud of me?"

"No really, I am, and not only you but I'm proud of everypony who-"

Celestia was cut off by an evil, dark laughter. Suddenly the throne room got a little darker. The only thing lighting up the room was the sunlight outside the windows.

"What is happening, sister?"

"I don't know Luna."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..."

"Who's there? Speak!"

"Oh! Haven't you realized yet? Oh come on Celestia, I expect better from you..."

"That voice! Luna?"

"Yes, I remember that dirty voice too, but it can't be!"

"Dirty?" Suddenly, in front of the two shocked Princesses, a black, transparent sphere appeared in the air, electricity surrounding it. Inside the dark sphere, a pony began to form. This pony had a gray mane and tail, and a brighter shade of gray fur. The pony also had a long gray beard. The pony's pupils were dark black and had an evil look to them. The pony had both wings and a horn, matching the color of his coat. 

The black sphere then vanished when the pony finished forming, the pony landed to the ground with a dark aura surrounding him. The pony looked to be a little shorter than Princess Luna.

"Why, it's been a long time, Princesses!" The pony had a very dark voice.

"Armak! But how? We defeated you a long time ago, many eons ago! You shouldn't be here!" Celestia gave the pony known as Armak, a dreadful glare.

"Why yes princess, I have been defeated long ago, but that doesn't mean I was gone permanently."

Celestia and Luna both gritted their teeth and began to charge their horns.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You see? This is not really me, just a visual spell, I'm using this as a communication source. Don't you remember this spell? You got rid of it. You got rid of this spell along with the rest!"

"Yes we did, I remember. But let's not talk about that, where were you all this time? Why are you here now?"

"Oh yes, after you defeated me long ago, I was too weak to face you again, so I took a very long sleep, to regain my power. AND NOW! I'M BACK, TO TAKE RULE OF EQUESTRIA! HA HA HA HA HA- awk! *cough* *cough* He sighed. "Oh, when you're old it's not the best laughter, BUT NO MATTER, my message has been delivered. You can come to my castle at this spot when you want to surrender." A map of Equestria appeared in front of Princess Celestia and Luna with a marked spot. 

"I'll be waiting for you, princesses, and if you don't come, I'll release a spell on Equestria that you don't ever want to know about." 

Armak took a look at himself and he was turning transparent. "...Hm? Well, looks like the spell is fading, I could keep it going longer, but I just woke up from a very long sleep. (yawn). Well, ta ta, princesses... I'll be waiting..." The dark stallion laughed as he faded away.

The brightness returned back to normal as the two Princesses stood there in shock.

"Luna?"

"Yes, sister?"

"I'll send a letter to Twilight, could you get Cadence here?"

"I will, sister." Princess Luna teleported away, and Celestia brought out a quill and started to write.

"My faithful student..."


2:00 pm - Golden Oaks Library

"And she doesn't respond to anything ah do." Applejack gathered the other 4 and brought them to help Twilight. She explained what she encountered.

"Hmmm, this might sound silly but, did you try giving her a book?" Rarity said with concern.

"Ah did actually, but it didn't work, usually she would sniff it, and come back to reality, but she didn't. This is very serious, and that's why ah brought you, girls, here."

Pinkie Pie trotted up to Twilight and scratched her chin. A few moments later, she pulled a water bucket out of nowhere and splashed it on Twilight. She then took a pie and threw it at her face. Pinkie did not give up easily, though, and blew an air horn in her ear, resulting everypony except Twilight to cover their ears. 

Twilight still didn't move. "Nope, nothing," Pinkie said.

"Wow, this is serious," Rainbow said.

Rarity walked up to Twilight with a towel and dried her off. She wiped the pie off her face as well.

Fluttershy spoke up. "Um... where's Spike? Shouldn't he be here?"

Twilight shot up as soon as she heard that voice. She pushed Rarity to the side, ran to Fluttershy, and tackled her onto the floor. "You saw Spike! Where is he? TELL ME!"

"I-I-I u-um..." Fluttershy was terrified.

"Hey calm down there Sugarcube, neither of us saw Spike today, but first we need to know, what in the hay happened to you? Why weren't you responding to anything I said?" Applejack pulled Twilight off of Fluttershy, who was relieved that Twilight was alright.

"Sorry Fluttershy."

"Can you explain what in Equestria happened back there?" Rainbow Dash asked in concern.

Twilight nodded and began to explain what happened last night as her friends listened closely.

"And then he ran off and didn't return home. I noticed this picture and saw what he said was the truth. I totally forgot about him when I met all of you..." Twilight showed her 5 friends the picture of the 6 of them, on the verge of tears. 



Twilight sobbed. "That's not all, I looked at my picture book and saw all the pictures. Around the time after a week I moved into Ponyville, I saw less and less pictures of Spike with me." Twilight Started to cry. 

The others felt guilty as well.

"S-So that's why ya went all berserk when Fluttershy said Spike's name."  

"Yeah..."

"I totally forgot to invite him to my super-duper fun parties..." Pinkie said sadly.

"I didn't even notice he was being left out." Fluttershy didn't make any sounds, but tears were dropping from her eyes.

"D-Don't worry Twi, we'll help you find him, and we will talk to him about this." Rainbow Dash made Twilight a little more confident.

"That's right Twilight, we'll find little Spikey-Wikey, and bring him home! He surely hasn't gotten far, and I'm certain somepony saw him walking around."

"You'll help me find him?"

"Yeah, of course, we'll help you, it's partially our fault this happened," Applejack said.

Twilight got more confident and she stood up. "Y-You're right! Alright! Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, you two search from the air. You will be able to see more distance. Applejack and Pinkie, you two look around Sugarcube Corner and the Apple Farm. Rarity and I will look around Carousel Boutique's area. We'll meet back here at 6:00, have something to eat and if we don't find him, we'll try again tomorrow. If anything, I'll send Owlowiscious to contact Princess Celestia, and let her know what's going on. Everypony clear!"

They all nodded and made their way to their search areas, little did they know, something even bigger was happening.
> Where's the Little Drake?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

3:00 pm - Near The Ocean

Not far from Ponyville, a drake was resting on a lone tree, on top of a hill. He gazed at the beautiful sight, the blue ocean waters. Waves and splashes made it look elegant, and the blue sky above it contrasted it perfectly. 

The drake was thinking about what they have done. If this could be fixed, have they even realized, or will they even care? Maybe Twilight already got a new assistant? Maybe they already forgot about him. Who knows, maybe they're glad he's gone. Never the less, he was relaxed, watching the beautiful sight in front of him. 

The little drake didn't have a comfortable sleep. He found shelter in a cave last night. Thankfully, this time, there was no dragon, or any other being occupying the area. So technically, he slept under a roof last night which was good, but where will he go now he wondered. He couldn't go to Celestia, she would send him back to Twilight. He couldn't go to the dragons, they would bully him again. He thought if he would be on the run forever, if someone would find him and keep them under their hoof, or wing, or claw, or... you get the idea.

Spike felt funny, he knew this feeling too well, that same feeling every time Celestia sent Twilight a letter. Spike burped up the letter and thought as he opened the letter: Was it for him? Did Twilight inform Celestia of what happened? Will Celestia torture him by sending needless letters until he returns?

Spike started to read the letter:




My faithful student,

A great and powerful pony has risen, and Equestria is in danger. We need you to come along with your friends to Canterlot for royal duties. This needs to be attended now, so whatever you are doing needs to stop as this is urgent. I will explain everything when you and your friends arrive. I need to go now. Please hurry.

Your Teacher, Celestia




When Spike read through the letter he thought of a lot of things: Should he just throw away the letter and let Equestria rot? Should he risk going back to Ponyville, to deliver the letter to Twilight, just so they forgive each other and for Spike to get abused again. No. Neither will happen.

"Sure I hate what they have done, but I still love and care for all of them. But maybe there is another way around this? Hm... if I give the letter to Twilight myself, things might go crazy, but if I don't, Equestria will be in the need of help while Twilight is doing something else. Maybe if I send a letter back to Celestia explaining that I'm not with Twilight anymore, she'll probably go fetch Twilight herself. ...but then she might send somepony to come get me. Urg! I don't know how I can do this! It's either the fate of Equestria, or my life!..." Suddenly, something popped in Spike's head. "Wait... that's it! I'll go give the letter to somepony else that doesn't know what's going on, and then they will give Twilight the letter instead of me. Then Twilight will ask them where they got the letter from, realize it was me, but I'll be long gone by then, ha ha!

Spike started his way back to Ponyville.


3:20 pm - Ponyville

All around, you could hear Spike's name being called out, the news had spread really quickly and EVERYPONY was feeling guilty. It was mostly Pinkie Pie and Rarity spreading the news. Pinkie was just a big load mouth, and Rarity loves to gossip. Twilight was mad at them at first but then shrugged it off when realizing they could find him faster when all of Ponyville was looking for the only dragon in all of Ponyville or even all of Equestria for the matter of fact. 

With a lot of ponies looking for Spike, Twilight's friends brought her back to the library to help her relax. They all sat in Twilight's bedroom, the only pony not being there was Rainbow Dash as she didn't like being cooped up without any action for so long. Her excuse was that she could fly the fastest, therefore, catching Spike more easily. 

It was silent, no pony spoke a word. They just waited for a report coming in that they have found Spike. 

Twilight was thinking. She was not only worried about Spike but also, the ponies searching for him. Would they ever go to sleep if they never found him? Are they mad at Twilight for what she caused? Only time will tell as they wait for the next act.

"Twilight? Ya alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Twilight didn't turn to Applejack when she said that. 

Applejack knew better. "Oh come on Twilight. It's so obvious that you're not alright. Ah doubt any of us are alright for what's happening right now."

"You know me well Applejack." Twilight gave a light chuckle. "I was just thinking of how Spike was always there for me. Like when all of our cutie marks got switched up, he was the one who snapped me back to reality. Remember when Discord was evil and he made all of you heartless and cruel? Well if Spike wasn't there Discord would've won. He always knew how to make me more confident. He was always there for me, but where was I all those times he needed me the most? Do you want to know what he told me? He told me that he thought of me as a big sister, well, I'm the worst big sister in Equestria."

Everypony looked down in shame. Twilight was right, not that they wanted to be rude, but not only her, all of them were the worst "big sisters" in Equestria.   


4:00 pm - Near the edge of the Apple Farm

Spike was almost at Ponyville, he could already see the buildings that Ponyville endured. All he needed to do was find somepony who could give this letter to Twilight, somepony he could trust. He had to be careful, though, Applejack could be anywhere, she most likely knew that Spike ran off, she would tie him up with one of the ropes she has. She's an expert and it would be impossible to get away from her if she saw him. 

Spike exited the Apple Farm and was about to approach Ponyville when he heard somepony calling out for him. Then he started to hear more voices calling out his name. Spike realized Twilight must have been telling all of Ponyville about his "escape" from her. 

"How could she?!?" Spike thought. She wants him to be her slave that badly? To get the whole town so worked up to make him work for Twilight and cause him some more pain to come. No, that's not going to happen! Spike turned around and started to run back through the Apple Farm until he remembered the letter in his claw. He couldn't just ignore the fact that Equestria was in danger and Twilight needs to know about it. 

Then Spike saw a tree house. It was the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Maybe they were there. Maybe they can deliver the letter to Twilight! Spike ran up to the clubhouse hoping that there were three little fillies there. He could tell them it could be for their "Letter Delivery Cutie Mark" or something like that, but who cares, he had the ticket to save Equestria and to be free from Twilight.


4:10 pm - CMC Treehouse

"Hey, if we find Spike maybe we'll get a "Dragon finders Cutie Mark"! Sweetie Belle said in excitement.

"How about something not so... specific, or dangerous, how about something like "Finding A Lost Friend Cutie Mark"? Scootaloo said also excited.

"No, the name is too long. How about we don't name our cutie marks until we see it?" 

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo both nodded agreeing to Apple Bloom's idea.

Just then, something opened the door to the clubhouse. "Hello? Are you girls in here?" 

Apple Bloom turned around to see Spike, and she got really excited.

"Look girls! Spike's here!" Apple Bloom Pointed to the confused drake.

The three fillies got excited and checked their behinds, to their unfortunate there was no cutie mark on either of them. They all looked disappointed.

"Oh man, I was really hoping to see a cool cutie mark," Scootaloo said in disappointment. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both agreed, but then realized what was more important. They have found Spike and they needed to bring him to Twilight.

"Spike! Where have ya been? Everypony's lookin' for ya."

"Uh, well I was hoping for you three not to have been informed on what has happened between me and Twilight, but I guess you already know," Spike said sadly.

"Well anyways, we need to go see Twilight, she's really upset and ah think you can help her out."

"She needs my help? She couldn't live without me for an entire day, can't she take care of herself?!" Spike said angrily.

"Spike, ah don't mean it like that, it's just-"

"No! How could you be on her side! I don't want to go back! She ruined my life!"

Spike's shouting scared the three fillies. Spike noticed and just decided to do what he came here for. "(sigh) I-I'm sorry for yelling. You see I don't want to go back, and I would appreciate if you didn't tell her where I am. Well, I guess you can tell her I gave you this letter, but that's it."

"Letter?" The three fillies thought.

"Oh yeah! Here, can you give this to Twilight? You have to, very quickly, as it's important to Equestria. I would give it to her myself, but I don't want her to see me at the moment."

"Oh, ah? Okay? Ah guess we could give her this letter." Apple Bloom took the letter and put it in her saddle bag.

"Go! Hurry! You must bring the letter to Twilight as fast as you can, as the fate of Equestria depends on it." 

The three fillies just stood there.

Spike slapped his forehead. "NOW!"

The CMC panicked and ran outside. Scootaloo got on her scooter, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom got on the wagon attached to it. They all put on their helmets and went off to the Golden Oaks Library. 

Spike watched them leave and then turned to walk away from Ponyville. Thinking to himself what's he going to do, where's he going to go, and what's going to happen next in his journey.


4:30 pm - Golden Oaks Library

There was still silence in Twilight's room. Rainbow Dash returned after searching for an hour. No pony dared to say a word, scared to cause something, a fight or misdirection. 

They were sitting there waiting for a report when suddenly there was a call from downstairs. "Twilight!" 

As soon as Twilight heard that, she bolted downstairs to see none other than the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Curious, the others came downstairs to meet whoever was calling out. 

Twilight drew in concern as Apple Bloom took out the letter that Spike gave her. Twilight read the letter and the look on her face expressed shock and confusion.

"Um, girls? Where did you get this?" The three fillies were scared to say Spike's name but then remembered that he said that it was okay as long as they didn't tell Twilight where he was. 

Sweetie Belle spoke up. "Um, Spike gave it to us."
> Royal Duties
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweetie Belle spoke up. "Um, Spike gave it to us." 

Twilight was about to snap when she heard that name, but then turned to see Fluttershy holding her back to keep her calm, she knows that Twilight will scare the fillies, and Twilight soon realized that too. 

"Twilight, take a deep breath."  Twilight understood and took a deep breath to calm herself down. 

Twilight then turned back to the fillies who were confused about what had just happened. "Where's Spike? And why did he have you three give this letter to me instead of himself?"

The fillies were scared to tell them where Spike was because Spike would get mad at them. "Um, we don't know?" Apple Bloom replied.

Applejack knew Apple Bloom since she was born, and she knew when she was lying to her. "Apple Bloom? Don't lie to us! Ya know ah can tell when you're lying. I knew ya for how long."

Apple Bloom knew that there was no choice but to tell the truth. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle also knew that too, but Apple Bloom knew a way around this mess. "Well... to tell ya the truth-"

Apple Bloom was cut off by Scootaloo's hoof to her mouth. Scootaloo whispered. "Hey, we can't just tell them what Spike asked nicely not tell them. That will just make us... bad friends."

Apple Bloom whispered back. "Ah know what ah'm doing Scootaloo, don't worry ah'll keep our word to Spike." 

Apple Bloom looked back at the Mane 6, still looking for an answer. "Well... ya see, Spike wanted us not to tell ya where he was, and we agreed not to tell y'all, a-and... ah'm gonna be a good friend and be true to my word, so there is no word coming out of me."

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both shook their heads in agreement.

Applejack looked furious. "What do ya mean ya'll won't tell us where-!"

Applejack was now the one being cut off with a hoof to the mouth, this time being Twilight. "Applejack, you know how important friendship is, and Apple Bloom is right, if we can't respect what Spike wants then we are not trusting friends."

"But Twilight, don't ya want to see Spike? Tell him how ya feel?" 

"I do, but I still have to respect him, and I guess this letter is very important for that Spike had to come back here to deliver it, even after what we had done to him."

"Ah guess so..." Applejack gave a light chuckle. "You know more about friendship than anypony else I know Twilight."

"Yeah, but I'm not a good friend myself, though," Twilight said sadly.

Rainbow Dash was still wondering. "Uh, Twilight? What did the letter say?" All heads turned to Twilight in concern.

"The princess said that we are needed in Canterlot for royal duties, she said this is urgent and we need to go as soon as we can."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Rainbow Dash flew out of the Library in a flash and the others followed, leaving the confused fillies behind.

"Okay... so what do we do now?" Scootaloo asked as the fillies started to walk back to their clubhouse.

"Um... girls?" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle who was blushing. "Back at the clubhouse... did any of you think that he looked... kinda... cute?"


5:00 - On a cliff over the shores

Spike felt like he was standing tall over the shores of the great big ocean that was displayed before him. Little did he know, somepony was watching him from the trees not far behind. 

Armak, the dark and powerful stallion was wondering why was there a dragon in Ponyville? And how was he related to the Princess? He had never seen a dragon just walking aimlessly around Equestria, nor had he seen one communicate with a filly so calmly. He needed answers, this could be something big.

Armak began to approach the drake in curiosity. He didn't want to waste time with a being unimportant. But the fact that he saw a dragon holding a royal scroll surprised him. Armak drew closer and closer, and Spike began to feel a very dark presence. Spike got startled when he turned around to see a pony sneaking up behind him.

"Oh... you're just a pony, sorry... you kinda scared me, sneaking up to me like that."

"Oh yes, my apologies young dragon. I was curious. I didn't expect to find a dragon out here." Armak was using a fake, kind voice.

"Yeah I guess I can see where you're coming from. There aren't many dragons wondering around pony territory."

"Yes. My name is Armak, do you have a name as well?"

"Oh hello Armak, my name is Spike."

"Yes. Um... Spike? You aren't like other dragons are you? You aren't fierce, or frightening, or viscous... no offense." Armak wanted to sound nice just until he found some answers. He couldn't care less if he'd hurt the dragon's feelings.

"None taken. You see, I was actually born here in Equestria, and I was raised by ponies for my whole life."

"Oh? Who took you in?" Armak was hoping he would say, Princess Celestia.

"Well... it was actually a pony named Twilight Sparkle. You know? Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

Armak was starting to feel lucky when he heard "Princess" he knew that this dragon would be of good use to him, but he can't take any chances. "Oh, the Princess? Do you two still have a strong relationship together?"

"Well... it's a long story, but basically, if she knew where I was she would come looking for me." Spike started to mumble to himself. "To turn me back into a twenty-four seven worker."

An evil grin appeared on Armak's face. "That's all I needed to hear." Armak started his evil laugh as his dark gray horn charged up and a dark aura surrounded Spike. 

Spike was shocked and confused. "What!?!? What's happening!?!? What are you doing to me?"

Armak just gave a chuckle and Spike vanished as the darkness flashed. "You'd better come soon princesses, your little... Spike is waiting for you." Armak once again started his evil laughter as he teleported away.

5:30 - On the Train to Canterlot

Twilight was staring out the window of the train as the plains were moving past her. She didn't feel like socializing with her friends right now because she was thinking about Spike of course. She kept on hearing all of the things Spike said before he ran away, that he was hurt all this time and Twilight didn't notice.

Rarity noticed Twilight, she had to talk to Twilight about this, she didn't like seeing her friend so... depressed. "Twilight? You're still thinking about Spike aren't you?" Twilight didn't turn to look at her but nodded in response. "You know... I have done as much wrong as you have Twilight. I overused him when he just wanted to help me as a good friend."

Twilight thought to herself. "Yeah, just a good friend." 

"I made him do things that I regret. He did so much for me and I didn't do a lot in return. So I guess I'm the closest to knowing how you feel."

"Think again." Rarity turned her head to see Rainbow Dash who was just standing right behind her. Twilight still didn't turn her head. "I've always made fun of the little guy. Like how he isn't strong or scary like a real dragon, and how he's weaker than me, a pony. Remember when he wanted to be apart of the Dragon Migration? That was all my fault. I didn't think of it at first, but then I noticed that all that teasing made him want to be a real dragon. I made him run away. I made him feel upset. So don't ever say you were the main reason Spike ran away, I believe we all had our part in it."

Twilight chuckled. "It's funny how you are talking about the dragon migration incident because we were the ones who ran after him to make sure he was okay. I just want to apologize and ask him for my forgiveness." Twilight looked down in shame. 

Rarity noticed lights outside of the train. It was night time and the lights stuck out. "Look! We're here! It's Canterlot!" Twilight did respond, this time, looking to her left, as she could see the buildings of Canterlot.

The train has made it to Canterlot. The Mane 6 got off the train and immediately rushed over to the castle. As they approached the entrance to the castle, the guards bowed to their princess and let Twilight and her friends in. The Mane 6 made their way to the throne room where Celestia will most likely be. 

The Mane 6 had made their way to the throne room and indeed met Celestia once again. They all bowed to Celestia except for Twilight. Celestia gave them all a warm smile. "You have all arrived."

Twilight had a lot of questions, and she wanted to get this over with so she could find Spike and apologize. "Celestia? You said that Equestria is in danger and that we were needed? What is happening?"

Celestia looked at Twilight with a serious face. "All of you come." Celestia started walking. She lead them to a room with a big table and fancy chairs in the middle, and standing there was none other than Princesses Luna and Cadence. 

"Luna? Cadence?" Twilight thought that if Celestia had brought the other princesses here then that meant that this was serious. 

"All of you sit, as I will be telling a story first. You will need to hear this story, to understand what is going on. You too Cadence as you weren't born at this time." Everypony took a seat and was listening. 





"This was very long ago, long before any of you or your ancestors were born. Back then, magic was usable in all sorts of ways, good and bad. Yes, magic could be used for ANYTHING, as there were no boundaries at the time." 

"After one incident long ago, when one pony had hurt the next with his magic in a fight, the guards and myself had only thought of this as a one-time thing, but other ponies soon realized after another that they could use magic in the wrong ways. Many ponies soon used their magic for bad, other ponies were still good, and even some of the ponies who used their magic for bad was still good inside. Fights were happening all over Equestria, fights that had no meanings, and fights that were very serious. So Luna and I decided that we had to get rid of all the bad magic in Equestria. So using our combined powers we had used a spell to extract all the bad magic and sealed it into a magical box." 

"The box now contained all of the now called dark magic in Equestria. Equestria soon went back to being the peaceful land it was, but one day, a greedy unicorn pony named Armak, wanted all the dark magic to himself. He didn't want to be filtered like this, so he stole the dark magic, and consumed it. He could feel the power that he had, all of the banned spells he could use, and he wanted to use it for revenge on me and Luna for the spell we released, for the filter we gave to the ponies." 

"Not long after he consumed the dark magic, he had gained control of it. He made himself a pair of pegasus wings that was one of the spells we banned. He became an Alicorn. He soon came to the castle and was looking for us, he fought through our guards with no effort. Luna and I saw that this was not going to be easy." 

"Eventually, we had won, but somehow he survived. He has been in a deep sleep to regain his power he used in the fight, and his dark magic took a long time to regenerate." 

"Some ponies who are worthy still contain a little bit of dark magic such as me and Luna. Twilight, you too had used dark magic before, but we have used he poweful magic for good, Armak uses the power for sole evil."





"Now he's back and he's still looking for revenge, if he doesn't get us, he'll get the next best thing, the two new princesses, and the bearers of the Elements Of Harmony. So that's why we needed to inform you all on what's happening because you're all in great danger."

"Show them the map sister." Luna requested.

"Right. Armak used a visual spell of himself to talk to us about his intentions and gave us this map. He marked the area where he will be waiting for us to surrender. If we go there not to surrender but to fight him I'm afraid that it will be a trap, so don't go there." 

Celestia then looked at all the ponies and noticed something, someone was missing, and she couldn't figure out who, but she had to focus on the threat right now. 

"You will all stay here at the castle to be safe. I can't risk you all being out there and being caught by Armak. Don't underestimate his power."  

Celestia looked around the room and the Mane Six looked tired. "All of you should go to rest, you all look tired." Celestia looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 10:00. Had she really been talking that long? Oh well.
> Armak's Plan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

10:30 - Canterlot Castle

Celestia has provided valuable information for the Mane 6 and Princess Cadence. Now they all rest, waiting for Armak's next move, well... except for one pony, who is still wondering where her little dragon is, is he okay, and what's going to happen between them? 

Twilight couldn't sleep, she never slept for so long. She kept twisting and turning in her bed. Every time she would be close to falling asleep, she would either hear, think, or see Spike. Then she would rise up from her bed quickly while breathing and sweating hard. It was either hearing the words Spike said before he left, or thinking about what's going to happen to him. Will he be okay without her? Will he ever forgive her? 

Twilight couldn't go to sleep, so she came out of her bed and went to go for a walk. Maybe she'll get tired by walking, who knows?

Twilight started to walk around the castle when she saw a balcony. She decided to go out to the balcony for some fresh air. When she went out, she saw the beautiful night. It wasn't cloudy, so she could see the glittering stars and the big bright moon. Luna made a wonderful scene tonight Twilight thought. It could help calm her down with the Spike problem.

Suddenly, Twilight heard something behind her. She smiled when she saw that it was none other than her brother Shining Armor. He saw her on the balcony from below and decided to pay her a visit.

"Hey Twily, I didn't know you were here as well."

Twilight gave a shocked, but happy expression. "(gasp) Shining!" They both ran towards each other and embraced in a warm hug. "Why are you here at the castle? I thought you were back at the Crystal Empire?"

"Princess Celestia called me here because of a new threat, I guess that's why you're here too huh?"

"Yeah! We were in danger at Ponyville, and I guess Cadence was in danger at the Crystal Empire, so we came here for protection. And since you're both the head of the guard, and Cadence's husband, you would need protection too."

"Hey, I don't need protection! I need to protect, and if all of you are safe, then that's what matters." 

"Yeah, but I want you to be safe too. I want everypony to get through this okay." Twilight knew that she was asking for too much since she didn't know where Spike was.

They both looked at the sky. Shining put his hoof around Twilight's neck and resting it on her shoulder. "So, you came out here to look at the night sky, it is beautiful." Shining looked at Twilight. He could tell something was wrong, he was her brother after all. "Twily? Is something bothering you?"

Twilight looked at her brother. "... Something's on my mind, but it's nothing, you shouldn't worry about it."

"Oh... alright then. Well, I have to get going, you know, duty calls." Shining took his hoof off of Twilight and started to trot away. "Bye Twily!"

"Bye Shining!"

"Hey, you know what? After all, of this is over, we can hang out. Never got to hang out with my baby sister after the King Sombra incident."

"Yeah... sure." Shining left, and Twilight knew that she couldn't hang out, after all, this. She had to find Spike.

Twilight then smiled at the term, "baby sister".


Unknown Time - Unknown Area

It was dark.

Spike awoke to find himself in a cage. A big cage, dangling from the ceiling using a chain. Around him, was what looked like an old castle. Looked as bad as the Castle Of The Two Sisters. The castle was filled with cobwebs, it was dusty, the furniture was cracked, and the curtains were ripped. Right beside the cage Spike was in, was a throne. The throne was like Princess Celestia's, but was dusty and cracked like the castle. 

Spike didn't know where he was, he had to get out of here. All he could remember was him talking to a pony and then he ended up here. "Hello? Anypony?" 

There was no answer. 

Spike tried to find the door of the cage, but there was none. How did he get in the cage if there is no door? Spike tried his fire breath, but nothing came out. It was just like the time at the Equestria Games, but he wasn't nervous. What was stopping him?

"Don't even try, I used a spell to seal your fire breath." Spike looked around but didn't see anypony. "I see you are awake... um? Spike? Yes, Spike!" Armak appeared from the shadows. With an evil grin on his face. "It's about time you woke up."

"You? Armak?"

"Yes, it is I, young Spike. Armak, the one who will claim Equestria for his own."

"Wha-? C-Claim Equestria?" Spike started putting the pieces together. "So... it was you, who Princess Celestia mentioned in the letter for Twilight!"

"Yes it was me, though, I thought it was kind of weird seeing a dragon with a letter from the princess, so I followed you to find some answers."

"What answers?"

"Answers to the questions that I have. Like for example, what kind of relationship do you have with Celestia? If you were close to the Princess then I could use you to lure them to me. It turns out that you are not close to Celestia, but close to Twilight, the other Princess."

"So that's why you have me here? Locked up in this cage?"

"Yes, if they noticed that you were missing they would come looking for you, and that would lead them straight to me. I would capture them, and make Equestria my own." Armak started to laugh.

Spike then gave a depressed expression. Spike knew that they wouldn't look for him. Instead, they would be happy because they would say that he deserved this because he left Twilight to fend for herself, they wouldn't care. "You're wrong... they wouldn't come save me... after all, they think about me only as an assistant," Spike said quietly.

Armak stopped laughing. "Wait, what!? You mean you were only an assistant? Nothing more?"

"...Yes..."

"Wha-? No... NO! My plan was perfect! I could already see them at my hoofs! Begging me to spare you! But you're... you're nothing!"

Spike took that to offense. "Hey!"

Armak was frustrated. He thought that his plan was ruined, but he didn't get the other side of the story.

He fired a random magic blast at the wall.


DAY 3 - 9:00 - Canterlot Castle

"Um, Celestia? You wouldn't mind if Sweetie Belle could come over? I mean, she's all alone in Ponyville... WAIT? I just left without telling her anything! Where did she sleep! What did she eat?" The Mane 6 and the Princesses were in Celestia and Luna's kitchen in the castle. They were eating breakfast.

"Calm down sugarcube. Ah'm sure Apple Bloom let her stay in, and ah doubt that Granny and Big Mac' didn't let her in."

"I-I'm sure your right, but I just left her there, what if something did happen to her?"

Celestia put her hoof on Rarity's shoulder and gave her a warm smile. "Don't worry about it. I'll send some of my guards to go check on them, and they'll pick up all of your family members. They will stay here for the time being. If Armak knows about them, then he will go after them."

"Perhaps, you should bring Scoots too. She is very close with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom." Rainbow suggested. 

"That's alright with me. We have plenty of room here in the castle, and I'm sure Luna or the Guards won't mind." 

Luna spoke up, "I don't mind."

"Great! Anyone else we forgot?"

"My family is nowhere near Ponyville, what about your's?" Rarity said.

They all said that none of their parents lived near here, but Celestia still thought that she forgot about somepony. "Okay, I'll send some of the guards right now to pick up your family and other very close friends. In the meantime, eat up, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!"

All ate their food except Twilight. Soon enough, though, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy got her to eat. 

Luna and Cadence were concerned, they didn't know why Twilight was acting like this. 

Luna whispered to Cadence, "Did you notice how Twilight's acting?"

Cadence whispered back, "Yes I did. Even Shining thought Twilight was acting strange."

"Where's that little dragon of hers?" Luna asked.

"Spike? I don't know. Now that you mention it, I've never seen him since we all arrived here."

"Well, how about we try to cheer her up, her friends are already trying to," Luna suggested.

Both heads turned to Twilight.

Cadence asked, "Twilight? Are you feeling alright? You weren't eating."

Twilight put on a fake big smile, "Yeah! I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be fine!"

Applejack frowned at Twilight, and Twilight knew what she meant. She was the Element of Honesty after all. 

"... Actually no, I'm not."

Cadence grew more concern for her friend. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

"No... it's nothing like that, I-I'll explain when Celestia returns."

"Oh, alright then."


12:00 - Old Castle - Unknown Area

Armak sat there, on his throne, both bored and frustrated. He didn't know what to do, now that he knows... or thinks that Spike is useless to him. He couldn't just let him go, for he would just tell the Princesses that he doesn't have a plan, and they would come for him. But, even though he was evil, he did enjoy the company.

"So. I'm interested." 

Spike was sitting in his cage, he gave a confused look, "Interested in what?"

"Of how YOU became an assistant to Twilight. You are like, the only dragon in Equestria."

"Oh, that? Um... Basically, Twilight had to pass an entrance exam for one of Celestia's schools in Canterlot. I... I was the exam, she had to hatch me from my egg to pass. She eventually hatched me, and she passed. After that, Celestia raised me until Twilight was old enough to take care of me. Once she became old enough, Celestia gave me to Twilight. At the time I still couldn't talk, dragons age slower than ponies do. You could say that Celestia was like a mother, and Twilight was like an older sister to me. Twilight raised me and when I got a little older, I became her assistant. I enjoyed being her assistant at first, but when we moved to Ponyville, I just got... used."

"So, they used a dragon egg for an exam, and when the dragon was old enough, it was just used for assisting a pony? That...That's low for Celestia."

"That's why I ran away. I hate what they did... I don't want to see them ever again! They just used me! I'm a different species, and they used me as a slave!" Spike got angrier by the second. 

"...Join me."

Spike looked at Armak in confusion. "Huh?"

"JOIN ME SPIKE! I'LL HELP YOU HAVE YOUR REVENGE!"

"No..."

This time, Armak was confused. "What? I thought you hated them?"

"I said I hated what they did. They might not love and care for me, but I love and care for them. So I will never help you!"

"Fine then." Armak was smart, he could see what was really happening. Spike was wrong, Twilight and her friends did care for Spike after all, but they had their mistakes. 

Twilight and her friends would come if they knew that Spike was here, and Armak's plan could continue, or maybe there's another way to beat Celestia? Armak gave a smile and left the throne room. 

Armak went to the library of the old castle, got a parchment and quill. He started to write.


Dear Celestia,

I have something for you...


12:20 - Canterlot Castle

All the ponies were in the room with the big table in the middle. The Apple Family, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the princesses, and Shining Armor, were all called here by Twilight and her friends. They needed to explain what happened with Spike. 

Twilight spoke, "Um... hi everypony. I'm going to explain what has happened a couple of days ago at Ponyville. You might have noticed me acting strange lately, and I believe I need to talk about it with all of you. Some of you might already know about this, but I'll give you a refresher. 

Twilight started to explain everything from the day she came back from their big party at Ponyville. 





When Twilight finished her story, the CMC, Apple Family, princesses, and Shining Armor looked shocked. The Apple Family helped with the search for Spike a day ago, but they never knew what had caused him to be missing, the CMC knew that Spike ran away, but didn't know that this was the reason, Princess Celestia finally noticed who was missing this whole time, it was Spike. Luna, Cadence, and Shining began to worry for Spike. Everypony in the room felt guilt after hearing the story, especially Twilight. 

"So that's why he's not here. He's angry at me, and he doesn't want to return. He's somewhere out there, and I always wonder where he is, and if he is okay. I-I just want to apologize and ask for his forgiveness."

"Now you all know why I was acting the way I did, and after this is all over, I'm going to find Spike! And there is nothing that can stop me!"

Cadence needed to cheer up Twilight, "Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure the Crystal ponies will help for the search of Spike. After all, he did save their empire."

"Yeah, and the guards also owe Spike a dept for saving the Equestria Games." Shining did make a point.

"We'll get the Apple Family to help as well." Granny Smith said in her creaky voice.

Twilight gained more confidence, "Thanks, all of you. I guess it was the best choice to talk it out with my friends and family." Everypony shook their heads agreeing.

Just then, a letter appeared in a flash of darkness in front of Celestia. 


> Unpredictable Plans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Celestia,

I have something that may change your course of action against me, something that you hold dear, something that you have neglected, and shoved away. I have him, the little dragon. You should know who I'm talking about by now. You should give up Celestia, because if you don't, you will never see your innocent baby dragon again. 

Spike is waiting, Armak





12:20 - Canterlot Castle

Celestia looked shocked. Everypony in the room noticed, and Twilight spoke up, "What's the matter, Celestia?" Twilight was the last pony Celestia wanted to hear ask that. After hearing her story about Spike, how would she handle hearing Spike being held captive? 

Celestia had to tell the truth, the ponies already saw her expression, so it was no use lying. She read the letter out loud, and all of the ponies in the room gasped.

"What?" Rarity said in shock.

"Spike's been taken away to a place where it is so totally dangerous and scary! AWESOME!" Pinkie Pie said.

Fluttershy nearly fainted.

"My Spike's in trouble?" Sweetie Belle whispered on the verge of tears. 

Twilight, was looking the worst. First there was a hint of shock, and then anger from the young alicorn. 

She gritted her teeth and started to sprint towards the door, only to be stopped by Pinkie Pie. 

"No Twilight! If you go out there, then that's what Armak exactly wants! He'll capture you too!" For once, Pinkie made sense, but Twilight couldn't just stay here while she knew that Spike was being held captive. 

Twilight went for the window next, but, this time, being stopped by Rarity and Cadence. 

"Twilight, darling! You have to think about what you're doing! Pinkie's right, you will just get captured too! We need to make a plan."

"We know how you feel Twilight, but it won't make it any better if you rush out there like that," Cadence explained.

Twilight couldn't make the same mistake again, she had to rescue Spike. It was partially her fault he got captured. He could have been beside her the whole time, safe, away from Armak's reach. "How could all of you tell me NOT to rescue him, aren't you all his friends? His family?"

Applejack put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "We want to save him too Sugarcube, but we won't be doing him any good if we get captured too."

"So what you're saying, is that you would care more about what happens to yourself, rather than him? How selfish can you be?"

"That's not what ah'm trying to say Twilight, we need a plan to save him. So there won't be any problems."

"A plan that will take a generation to come up with? That will make Spike have more doubt that we still even love him?"

"You know, it won't take that long with the fastest flyer in Equestria helping you." Rainbow Dash confidently said.

"Yes, and I'm here to help too Twilight." Fluttershy kindly said.

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders will help too of course!" Apple Bloom said while Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shook their heads in agreement.

Twilight looked around to see all of her friends and realized they were right. She couldn't just barge in, take Spike, and leave. She would have to face against Armak first if not already captured in one of his traps. And Armak is not an easy foe. "I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Rainbow Dash wrapped a hoof around Twilight's neck. "Oh stop with all the "sorry"s! We have a plan to put together!"


1:00 - Old Castle - Unknown Area

Armak sat there on his throne, excited to see the next part of his plan unfold. Spike was still in his cage, even more, depressed thinking he will be staying here for the rest of his life, or when Armak decides to end his life. 

"So?" 

Spike looked up to Armak. "What?"

"Have any second thoughts of joining me."

Spike looked at Armak angrily, and Armak took no for an answer.

"Okay fine, but can't you wait to see the looks on their faces when I reveal the true part of my plan?"

"They are not coming, and anyways, I don't even know what the next part of your plan is."

"Oh, you'll see. It involves... actually no, I'm not going to spoil it for you, you'll just know when it happens."

"Okay," Spike said in a sarcastic tone.

"I'm still confused. If you hate what they've done to you, why don't you hate them? If I were in your position, I would feel betrayed."

Spike stood up and held the bars of his cage. "Well, that's who you are. I'm Spike. I'm a kind dragon. I'm always loyal to my friends. I'm also generous, and honest with them too. It doesn't matter what happens, I can't change who I am, I will always be me."

"Whatever you say," Armak muttered to himself. "But you won't be acting so kind, loyal, generous, or honest so soon Spike." Armak started to chuckle evilly, that echoed through the entire castle.


2:00 - Canterlot Castle

"This is the map Armak gave me to let us know where he is. He marked this area right here."

"That's at the edge of the Everfree Forest!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Yes, this is where we believe he has set up traps for us. If we go there and bait him out we might have a chance to capture him. Then after that, we ask him about Spike." Luna said.

"This is a good plan but what can we use to bait him out?" Rarity asked.

"I don't know, maybe we can use something... or somePONY to bait him out. Yes, if we let one of us get captured then we can lure him out, and then we confront him." Celestia said.

"Great! But who's gonna get captured?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted the conversation. "I've been listening to this 'plan' of your's but, must I ask, who is this Armak guy, and what's his game?" 

Everypony looked around to see who was talking but no one saw where he was. Most ponies in the room knew who he was, though.

Celestia smiled and was the first to respond, "Well, if you come out so we can see you Discord, we'll tell you." 

With a sudden flash of light, the Draconequus himself appeared. "Aw well. I liked being invisible to all of you, but if you insist." Discord went to go stand right next to Fluttershy, and they smiled at each other.

While the ponies explained to Discord the situation, Sweetie Belle looked at the map with the marked spot, took out her own map of Equestria and marked the same spot. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were beside her.

"Sweetie Belle what are ya doing?" Apple Bloom whispered. 

"If I can find Spike and save him from this Armak guy, then he will love me for sure!" Sweetie Belle whispered back.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both looked confused. 

"Love you?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo still didn't get that Sweetie Belle has a crush on Spike.

Sweetie Belle put the map in her saddle bag and ran off. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed her. "Sweetie Belle, where are you going?" Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo ran out of the castle. When Sweetie Belle was half way through Canterlot, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo finally caught up to her and stopped her. "Sweetie Belle? Ya didn't answer back there, where are ya going?" 

"Oh, um? I'm going to where that Armak guy is and I'm going to save Spike!" 

"Sweetie Belle, are ya crazy? That's very dangerous, something could happen to you!"

"No, I would have snuck in, save Spike, and get out, before Armak saw me." Sweetie said confidently.

"Do you even know where Spike is, in the place?"

"Ummm... no, but if I saw the place he was in then I would see an opening."

"Do you really think that an evil pony would just leave an open spot like that?" Scootaloo asked.

"...OKAY FINE! I want to save Spike because I want him to think that I'm good enough for him!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both looked at each other in confusion."Why do ya want him to think that?"

"Because... I think I like him. Like, like like him." She explained.

"Like like him!" Scootaloo and Apple Bloom both said in shock.

"Yeah, so that's why I want to save him. I want him to like me back."

"Well... If that's the reason then ah'll be happy to help Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom happily offered.

"I don't know much about all this icky love stuff, but if it will make my friend happy than I'm in too," Scootaloo said.

"Umm... thanks but I want to do this alone, because if one of you girls save him, then he'll like you instead of me."

"Okay, ah promise ah won't save Spike, ah'll just help you be the one to save him." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah me too!" Scootaloo added.

"O-Okay, I guess you can come. You are my best friends."

"Alright then, let's go!" Apple Bloom said.


2:30 -  Old Castle - Edge Of The Everfree Forest 

"Well Spike, your friends are on their way, and very soon they will meet their demise," Armak said.

"How many times do I have to tell you, they're are not coming," Spike said sadly.

"Oh Spike, you don't know anything. Your friends do still care about you, and they are coming to save you."

"If they are coming then they are going to act like they care about me, and then they are going to go back to their stupid ways."

"Oh well, but it doesn't matter to me what they are coming for, as long as they come. It's all part of the plan, and it doesn't matter what they would have done to you because I would have defeated them already. After I become ruler of Equestria I won't keep you, I'm not a monster. So in the end, you'll be free."

"Not a monster? You can say what you think but yeah, maybe your right, you will help me be free in the end, but that doesn't change the fact that I will hate you if you succeed."

"Maybe so, but we will both be happy in the end."


3:00 - Canterlot Castle

After they finished discussing the plan. Twilight and her friends went to go eat. They didn't have lunch yet and they were starving. Applejack went to go eat with her family, Rarity and Rainbow Dash went to go find the CMC, and Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Twilight all went to go eat together.

Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie pie were in a room, there was a table with three chairs and they were eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It was silent in the room. Somepony had to break the silence eventually.

Fluttershy knew what was on Twilight's mind. "Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure we'll save Spike from that evil Armak, and then we'll talk to Spike and get this all sorted out."

"Yeah, but I'm worried what's going to happen between me and Spike, will he forgive me and everything will be back to normal again? Or will he hate me forever and I'll never forgive myself?"

Fluttershy wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. She was scared of the same thing. She was the element of kindness, and she was going to lose a friend because she never paid attention to him. Wasn't being rude to him, but at the same time not being kind. 

"Don't worry Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said. "I'm sure if I throw a big party for Spike then he'll forgive us."

"I don't think it's that simple Pinkie. After all, I didn't even invite him to my own birthday party." Twilight said sadly.

"Oh, yeah..." Pinkie never felt so sad in her life. She never forgot to invite somepony, or in this case, somedragon to one of her parties before. 

Just then Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash burst through the door.

"Oh hey girls, what's... wrong?" Twilight asked.

"Twilight! Apple Bloom's missin'!" Applejack said.

"And Sweetie Belle too!" Rarity added.

"I also can't find Scootaloo anywhere!" Rainbow Dash stated.

"What?" Twilight asked.

"They weren't seen anywhere in the past hour, and we asked everypony in the castle." Rarity said.

"They must have heard us when we were talking about the plan, and they are probably heading to Armak."

"Rainbow, what makes you think of that?" Twilight said.

"Twilight! These are the Cutie Mark Crusaders we're talking about here, THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!"

"Oh dear, your right! We have to go after them!"


3:30 -  Old Castle - Edge Of The Everfree Forest 

"Well?"

"What?"

"What's your plan IF they come?" Spike asked. 

"That is something I need to follow, and something you will soon find out." 

"Well? Am I going to even see it?"

"Well, you will do more than see it."

"Will I be a part of it?"

"Yes."

"When will you execute it?"

"Okay, no more questions."

"Will I-"

"OK! YOU'RE GETTING ANNOYING!" Armak used his dark magic to teleport the cage and Spike away to a different, quiet location. "Ahhhhh, peace and quiet, as I wait for three little fillies to arrive..."
> The Execution
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and her friends went to the throne room, they had to find Celestia. When they arrived, Celestia was there, sitting on her throne and Luna was there beside her.

The Mane 6 ran up to Celestia with worried looks. "Princess!"

Celestia was concerned. "What's the matter Twilight?"

"I-It's the fillies, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They must have gone after Armak."

"Have you seen them go towards Armak?"

"No."

"Then how could you be so certain?"

"Princess, you have no idea what the Cutie Mark Crusaders do."

"Cutie Mark... Crusaders?"

"Okay, never mind that. We need to find them."

Suddenly, Discord approached from behind. "I heard everything, and I believe I can help."

"How could you help?" Twilight asked.

"The filly that is Rarity's sibling is a unicorn am I correct?"

"Yes, she is." Rarity responded.

"Well, you're all in luck! I can sense unicorn magic."

"Really you can? I never knew you could do that. But what if they're too far?" Twilight mentioned.

"Not only that, Sweetie Belle didn't really fully adjust to her magic just yet." Rarity added.

"Don't worry, I can sense magic from a very long distance, and I can even sense magic within a pony, even one who has even yet to fully develop magic." Discord closed his eyes and concentrated.

Cadence trotted into the throne room. "Hello, everypony. What's going on-"

"SHHH! I need to concentrate." Discord interrupted.

Everypony waited for Discord to say something. 

"...I see her. Yes, a small magical source heading to the Everfree forest, and fast."

"That's her, great! We need to go after them before they reach Armak." Rarity said.

The others nodded and ran off.

"Oh! Twilight! Try not to face Armak, just get the little ones, and bring them back here." Celestia said. 

Twilight nodded and continued to run.

Cadence was confused. "Um? What was that about?"

Celestia explained to Cadence what happened. 

Cadence had a worried look. "Shouldn't we go help them?" She asked.

"I'm sure Twilight knows as well, that if we leave the castle unguarded Armak will attack. So we'll guard the castle while they go get the fillies." Celestia explained.

"Alright, I understand."


4:00 - On a Trail Heading Towards The Everfree Forest

"Okay girls, we're almost at the Everfree Forest." Sweetie Belle happily said.

"Hey, maybe we'll finally get our "Finding A Lost Friend Cutie Mark"," Scootaloo said.

"No, wasn't it called the "Dragon finders Cutie Mark"?" Sweetie Belle thought.

"No, remember we said that we won't name it until we see it?" Apple Bloom said.

"Oh yeah!" Scootaloo said remembering.

"Hey Sweetie Belle, how far deep into the forest do we have ta go?" Apple Bloom asked.

Sweetie Belle took out the map. "Um... it looks like it's at the other side of the forest."

"How about we go around the forest?" Scootaloo suggested.

"No that will take too long, my sister and the others would get there, and save Spike before us." Sweetie Belle explained.

"Oh, so we have no choice but to go through a dangerous, terrifying, dark forest." 

"It's not that dangerous, ah've gone through it many times ta go to Zecora's hut." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, but Zecora's hut is near the middle of the forest, we have to go all the way through," Scootaloo said. 

"Oh well, I guess we have to hope for the best. Come on, let's pick up the pace." Sweetie Belle started to run faster, and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom started to follow.


4:10 -  Old Castle - Edge Of The Everfree Forest

Armak was looking at a big floating crystal, there was an image in the crystal of the three fillies running towards the old castle. 

"They get closer by the second. Too bad they aren't Twilight and her friends, or even the princesses."

Armak used his magic to move the image in the crystal and to try to look for Twilight and the others. He found some ponies a long distance behind the three others. He got excited when he saw that it was Twilight and her friends. 

"What, they are coming here too? No, they can't be coming here, they think I set traps here so they won't be coming so stupidly. Unless... they are following the three young ones. Yes, this is perfect, they are coming sooner than I thought. The execution of my plan will happen very soon." Armak started his evil laugh.


4:20 - Entrance to the Everfree Forest

"Okay Apple Bloom, you lead the way," Scootaloo said.

They had no problem going towards Zecora's hut, but once they walked deeper into the forest it seemed darker. Hopefully, they wouldn't stumble across any Timberwolves, Manticores, or any other dangerous creatures. They were halfway through the forest, walking on a trail. 

They heard a stick snap. "What was that?" Sweetie asked, terrified.

They were all scared, but they had to keep moving, they had to save Spike. 

They were almost to their destination, but suddenly, a Manticore appeared from a bush, what they were worried about this whole time. 

The Manticore growled, and the fillies shook in fear.

They had nothing to defend themselves with, so they only had one option. "RUN!"

They ran as fast as they could, but the Manticore was slowly catching up. 

Just then, Apple Bloom had an idea. She turned around to face the Manticore.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle noticed that Apple Bloom stopped.

"Apple Bloom? What are you doing?! Run!" Scootaloo yelled.

Apple Bloom charged straight for the Manticore. Since she was small she ran right underneath him. Apple Bloom was now behind the Manticore. The Manticore turned around to face the brave filly and roared.

"Now your chance, run!"

"What about you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Ah have an idea, just go."

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hesitated but nodded, and did as they were told.

Apple Bloom again ran under the Manticore, she stopped right underneath and bucked his stomach. Apple Bloom saw her sister buck apple trees before, and she practiced herself. 

It proved effective as the Manticore closed it's eyes and was paralyzed for a second, Apple Bloom took this chance and ran away. When the Manticore opened it's eyes, he couldn't see the ponies he just encountered. It soon got confused, and just gave up.

Apple Bloom soon caught up to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. 

Scootaloo was relieved. "Oh thank goodness, I thought I had to go back and teach that monster a lesson. Are you hurt?"

"Naw ah'm alright, we don't need to worry about that thing anymore."

"Well good, because look there!"

Apple Bloom looked towards where Scootaloo was pointing. It was an old castle. It had a broken drawbridge, and a big door that was already open.

Sweetie Belle looked at her map. "It looks like this is the place."

"Alright! Let's go find Spike!"


4:30 - Edge Of the Everfree Forest

Not that far behind the CMC was the Mane 6. They were catching up. 

Twilight noticed something. "Hey, look over there!"

Not far in front of them, was an old castle.

"Looks like we're here."

"Oh no! They must have already gone inside!" Rarity presumed.

"Come on, let's go check," Twilight suggested.

The Mane 6 walked inside the castle. There was a long hallway. They saw cobwebs everywhere, broken and dusty furniture, old knight armor, ripped carpets, it was a mess. They checked every room and didn't find a trace of the CMC anywhere. They soon came across another hallway, with a big door at the end. They went up to it and opened it to find the throne room and three fillies. 

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle turned to see the Mane 6.

"Oh, there you are Sweetie Belle!" Rarity ran up to her sister and tightly hugged her. "Oh, I was so worried."

"I'm fine sis, gosh." Sweetie rolled her eyes.

Twilight looked around worried. "Okay, it's starting to feel weird, let's get out of here before-"

They all started to hear an evil laughter. "Before what Twilight? Oh, I'm sorry, you didn't get to finish your sentence." Above the throne, there was a flash of darkness and Armak appeared. Armak took a seat on his throne.

"Are you... Armak?" Twilight asked.

"Why, yes I am, and I believe you are Twilight Sparkle, no wait, Princess Twilight Sparkle? And the others must be the bearers of the elements?"

"Yes, we are."

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity shoved Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle behind them.

"Oh, how adorable. Big sisters protecting their little sisters."

"Enough with the introductions! We are here to stop you!"

Armak started to laugh. "You? Stop me? Fools! I'm guessing you don't know my true potential. My true, POWER!" 

A dark aura surrounded Armak, and some kind of force was pushing the other ponies away like a gust of wind, Rarity and Applejack held on to their sisters and Rainbow held on to Scootaloo. They all stood their ground, and their manes shook wildly. 

The magic force soon ended. 

Armak started laughing.

Twilight wanted answers. "Where's Spike?"

"Spike? Well, he's right here." Armak's used his magic, and a cage started to lower down from the ceiling using a chain. In the cage, was Spike laying down on his back unconscious."

"Spike?!" Twilight was horrified. She turned to Armak angrily. "What did you do to him!" Twilight started to charge her horn. "You let him go, now!"


Armak was still laughing and his horn charged up. "What did I do to him, or what am I going to do to him?"

Spike woke up with a grunt. "What? What's happening?" Spike rubbed his head and looked out from his cage. "T-Twilight? Everyone?!"

"Now, let the execution of my plan finally begin!" Armak said excitedly.

Armak released his magic, and the dark magic surrounded the cage and Spike. 

Spike was horrified. "What's this?"





Play the video I put here while reading Spike's transformation.






The dark magic sprung on Spike, and his body started to glow black. Twilight and her friends had to cover their eyes even though it was a dark glow. Spike's body slowly rose, and started beating in darkness like a heartbeat. His eyes glowed a dark purple. Spike's light green scales on his belly slowly turned into dark green, darker than the spikes on his head and his tail. With a flash of darkness the cage was shattered, making the drake slowly descend onto his feet. 

When the ponies opened up their eyes, they saw this new Spike standing in front of them. 

Armak looked impressed. "It worked! Now Equestria is mine!" Armak started to laugh even harder than before.

Twilight and her friends all looked shocked. This Spike looked evil, dark, calm, and angry at the same time.

Suddenly, Spike raised his claw and pointed a finger at Rarity. 

"W-What?" Rarity asked. She was scared. You could tell by the shaking of her voice.

A small, emerald green ball of some kind of energy was forming in front of the tip of his finger, electricity sparked around the sphere and Spike's claw, creating cracking sounds.

The ball grew until it was half as big as Spike. 

It was in a millisecond, no pony had time to react. 

Spike fired the ball of energy at Rarity.

Rarity was hit with the energy ball and then it made an explosion on impact. 

Rarity squeaked, and fell down.

Everypony's eyes widened. "RARITY!" They all screamed.

"What was that?" Applejack asked.

Spike lowered his finger. "That, was for ignoring me." Spike angrily, but calmly said.

Spike then turned to Pinkie Pie, pointed his finger at her. "And this is for not inviting me to the parties you had." Spike shot another energy ball. 

Twilight saw this, teleported beside Pinkie, and teleported them both out of the ball's way. The attack hit the wall and exploded.

Twilight teleported next to Fluttershy, and she looked shocked. "T-That's the same magic Spike uses to send letters to Celestia!" Twilight grunted and looked back at Spike. "Fire magic!" 

"What?" Everypony but Twilight and Armak said.

"But I don't understand, Spike! Where did you get this power? Why are you doing this? You would never do something like this!"

Spike pointed his finger at Twilight, this time, he was about to fire but then Armak called him off. "No Spike, wait." Spike lowered his finger.

Twilight was shocked at Spike's actions. "Spike, don't tell me you're working for Armak!"

Armak chuckled. "It's not really Spike working for me. Well... his body and power are at least."

"W-What are you saying?"

"You see, he told me all the things you have done to him in the past. All the abuse, the torture, the pain. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. He hated what you had done to him, so I used a dark spell to turn that hatred into power. Now Spike is nothing but hate, and I control him." Armak started his evil laugh once again. 

Everypony was in shock.

"What?! You turn him back to normal right now!" Twilight demanded while she charged her horn.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Armak chuckled. "Spike, you may continue."

Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof down in anger. "Even if you're being controlled, nobody hurts my friends, and maybe I can snap you out of it." Rainbow Dash flew over to Spike and started to wind her hoof ready to land a punch. She attempted the punch, but it proved useless as Spike caught her hoof and stopped her attack. Rainbow Dashed was stunned, but soon the stunning turned to shock and pain as Spike squeezed her hoof tightly. She tried her best not to scream because of the pain.

"This is for not taking me with you to Cloudsdale." Rainbow watched, unable to do anything as Spike raised his claw slowly and released a magic blast from his palm onto Rainbow's stomach. Rainbow grunted in pain and got sent flying back. She landed next to the Mane 6 and CMC, unconscious.

Rarity was weak, but she had the strength to talk. "Sweetie...Belle...Run."

Scared, Sweetie Belle did what she was told and ran, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed.

Applejack started to twirl her rope with her tail and caught Spike with it. The rope tied Spike's arms to his sides. Spike pushed back against the rope with his arms and ripped the rope with ease. Spike then used the rope that was tied to Applejack's tail and pulled her towards him. When she was close enough, Spike turned his claws into fists and started to hit Applejack.

First, the stomach.

Then, the sides.

Next, the legs.

And finally, the face.

When Spike noticed that Applejack was knocked out, he tossed her towards Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and a horrified Fluttershy. "That was for using me."

Twilight looked around. Their two best forces, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were out cold, and Rarity was injured badly. 

They had to act quickly. "Fluttershy, grab Rainbow and run! Pinkie Pie you grab Applejack, I'll take Rarity." 

Pinkie and Fluttershy both looked at Twilight and nodded. 

Fluttershy scooped up Rainbow in her hoofs and flew away quickly.

Pinkie slammed a hoof on the floor diligently, making Applejack bounce in the air and land on her back. "Let's go Applejack, time to hightail out of here!" Pinkie zipped towards the exit.

Twilight used her magic to levitate Rarity onto her back. Rarity groaned in pain. "It's gonna be alright Rarity, let's get out of here." Twilight said confidently, even if she wasn't.

They all ran, not daring to slow down.

Twilight took one last glimpse at Spike, and a single tear ran down her eye. "I'm sorry." She whispered to herself. She would soon return she thought, and she would get Spike back.

Spike pointed his finger to the ponies, ready to fire, but Armak used his hoof to lower Spike's arm. "No, they are not a threat." 

Spike was gritting his teeth angrily. 

"Don't worry. I'll let you finish them off later. For now, let's go have some fun in Fillydelphia."






Next time on Season Spike


"Yeah, we are TOTALLY fine after getting beat by our mind controlled friend, and a dark magic wielder."

"What happened to you all?"

"Princess, Fillydelphia is being attacked!"





"Let's head to Appleloosa next."

"Hey, you're that dragon that Applejack was talking about aren't ya?"





"Babs Seed is it? I remember when you came to Ponyville."





"The name's Spitfire!"

"Discord..."





"How will we fight against Spike sister?"





"He's too strong!"





"Yes, it is I, the great, and powerful Trixie!"

"Who is she Spike?"





"Spike!"

"Goodnight... sister."
> The Bearer Of Dark Magic: Armak
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Thousands Of Years Ago...

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood on the highest balcony of Canterlot castle. The skies were gloomy, lighting flashed everywhere.

Celestia and Luna looked at each other and nodded. Their horns lit up brightly, and a rainbow wave escaped and covered Equestria.

"We has't done it, dear sister." Celestia said.

Luna nodded. "Now, ponies wilt not beest able to harm others with magic." She boomed.





One Week Later

Iron Wall and his friends were walking down the Canterlot streets happily. His little brother ran up to him smiling. This unicorn colt had a gray coat and mane.

"Big bro, can we go get some ice cream, it's really hot."

Iron Wall looked back at his friends. "You guys up for ice cream?" 

His friends nodded. Flash Light, an athletic Pegasus with a mint green coat and a dark blue mane with a single strip of yellow in the middle, and Apple Cruncher, a humble Earth pony with a yellow coat and dark orange mane.

"Alright then, it's on me."

An Hour Later

They were all walking out of the store.

"I can't believe you ate that in two bites!" Flash Light said.

"Well, it was a special made, Apple flavored ice cream." Apple Cruncher said in his country voice.

"I still can't believe you actually like those."

"Ah am an Apple, it's in our blood."

"What flavor did you get again Flash Light?" Iron Wall's brother asked.

"Oh, I got somethin' called Rocky Road."

"Okay, I'm gonna try that next time."

Iron Wall looked back at his friends that were talking. He looked to the left to see a carriage coming downhill fast towards his friends and brother. 

Iron Wall gasped, he tried to yell at them to get out of the way, but he was across the road, and they couldn't hear him.

Iron Wall pointed his horn at the carriage, about to fire a blast, but then...

*Shock* Iron Wall's horn sparked and nothing came out. Ponies could no longer use magic for hurting others, blasts were not an exception.

Iron Wall reached his hoof out, trying to grab his little brother, but it was too late.

The carriage hit his friends and his brother.





Iron Wall sat outside the operating room, telling himself that they will all be okay, but alas.

The doctor came out of the room. He looked at Iron Wall and shook his head.

Iron Wall's pupils shrank.

He ran into the room where his friends were, all in terrible condition.

He ran up to his brother, who looked the worst. His eyes were closed, bruises and cuts all over his body.

Iron Wall's mouth stayed open as he watched his brother, laying there. "Mother and Father already left. I don't want you to go too, Iron Smash..." Tears began to run down his cheeks.

Iron Smash opened his eyes and looked up to his brother. He smiled, and his eyes slowly closed.

Iron Wall stood there as three long beeps filled the room.





Iron wall screamed in his household, tearing the place apart.

"If those two Princesses didn't... didn't.... FILTER us, then I could've saved them." Iron Wall gritted his teeth. "I won't stop until they are destroyed. Until they have felt the pain that I do."

Iron Wall stormed out his house and made his way to the library. Once he entered, hours upon hours have been used for research. He needed something to take down the Alicorn Princesses.

After hours wasted, Iron Wall didn't find anything.

"Sir, the library is closing in 5 minutes."

"Very well." Iron Wall exited the library quietly.

He proceeded to walk down the Canterlot streets. The sky was turning orange.

He walked a long distance until something to his right called out to him. 

Iron Wall trotted up to an old stallion sitting at a stand, he was about 100 in age. "Yes?"

"I know you are in search of something. Something that can aid you." The old stallion said in his creaky voice.

"W-What?!? How did you-"

The old stallion waved his hoof gesturing a "no". "I've been living long enough, and I know a thing about magic."

"Go on."

"You just can't get rid of it."

"You just can't get rid of it? What does that mean?"

"When the princesses took the majority of the magic away from the ponies..."

"It's not gone..." Iron Wall noticed. "They must have stored it somewhere!"

"Correct. Here, take this." The old stallion pulled a book out from beneath the stand and placed it down in front of Iron Wall. The book's title was "Dark Magic". "Read this book, and you may find what you seek."

Iron Wall took the book and nodded. He proceeded to walk back home.





It took whole night, but Iron Wall read the book. He found what he was looking for.

He packed his things and went to scale the mountain holding Canterlot.

After an hour, he finally made it.

A cave, which had two royal guards in front, guarding the entrance. 

Iron Wall peeked out behind a rock in the near distance, he noticed an opening on the right.

Iron wall entered the opening and sneaked past every guard successfully.

He then saw a huge door. He ran to it and silently opened it. 

His eyes grew wide when he saw the large group of stairs leading up to a stone table. 

He trotted up the stairs and saw what he was looking for.

A box laid on the table, dark aura surrounding it.

Suddenly, a guard slammed the door open. "Halt!" 

The guard was too late. Iron Wall touched the box and the darkness engulfed him, a flash of darkness blinded the guard.

When the guard could see again, he looked up to find Iron with a dark aura surrounding him.

Soon after, Iron started to chuckle. "This feels AMAZING! I could definitely beat those two with this power! I might need some air time as well." Armak charged his horn as a pair of wings sprouted on his back. "Much better, though it might take some getting used to."

More guards arrived. "Stop! You are under arrest for... uh? You are under arrest!" Celestia and Luna did not explain anything about the room, only that they had to guard it, and that no pony was allowed in, no exceptions.

"Foolish." Iron charged his horn and shot a blast at the guards, exploding on impact. All the guards fell down. 

One guard managed to speak. "W-Who are you?"

"Me? I am the one who lost what could never be found again." Iron Wall walked past the pile of guards. He stopped but didn't look back. "My name is Armak, remember that name." 





Armak approached Canterlot Castle. 

Once he got close to the gate, two guards blocked his path. "No pony is allowed in."

"Please, I need to see the princesses."

"Sorry, we can't let you in."

Armak grinned. "Then how about this?" Armak punched the two guards in the stomach and they fell down in pain.

As Armak proceeded to the castle, more guards rushed him. He took them out with ease.

Armak soon reached the throne room. He bowed to the princesses. 

"Who's thou who interrupts us." Luna said.

"My apologies, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Armak, and I stole the dark magic."

Celestia gasped. "It's thee, who stole the ambitious magic?"

Luna gasped after that. "Is what he speaks, true?"

Armak nodded. "I'm going to avenge you all, watch me." Armak said to himself.





Time passed, and the battle was still raging on. The sky grew gloomy once again.

Armak and the princesses were equal. They were having a standoff in a wasteland not far from Canterlot.

"Sister, we must bring out the power of the elements!" Luna said.

Celestia nodded and they proceed to bring the Elements Of Harmony out.

Armak noticed the shining light and covered his eyes. "What's this?"

Suddenly, the elements shot out light and it headed for Armak.

Armak screamed as he got hit with this mysterious light. "NOOOOOOOOO!!!"





Armak was floating in the air, a white void surrounding him.

Voices started to speak. "One day, you will be defeated, and regain what you have lost." 

"What is happening?"

An image soon appeared, showing a shadowy image of six ponies and one small figure. The six ponies soon disappeared but the small figure remained.

"W-Who is that?" Armak tried to speak but he was cut off by the image shining brightly.





Armak was gone.

"We hast done it!" Celestia said.

Luna nodded.





It was dark in the sky, Luna's moon shone brightly, casting away the darkness.

In the middle of the Everfree forest, sat a weak Alicorn against a tree. "I'll... be back... princesses... and I... will avenge... them...

...

...
> [Dark Magic Arc: Part 2] Equestria Attacked
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Last Time On Season Spike


"I'd expect the pony who I think as my SISTER to stand up for me, but she doesn't!"

"Spike thought of me as a... a sister?"

"Ever since we came to Ponyville you spent time with your new friends and forgot about me!"





"Fine, I'll just never come back, I'm not going to be your slave!"

"Oh, he'll come back to his senses later."





"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..."

"That voice! Luna?"

"Yes, I remember that dirty voice too, but it can't be!"

"Armak?! But how? We defeated you a long time ago, many eons ago! You shouldn't be here!" 





"You saw Spike? Where is he? TELL ME!"

"He ran off and didn't return home."





"Sure I hate what they have done, but I still love and care for all of them."





"The princess said that we are needed in Canterlot for royal duties."





"Hello."

"Greetings. My name is Armak"





"I was actually born here in Equestria, and I was raised by ponies for my whole life."

"Oh? Who took you in?"

"You know? Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

"That's all I needed to hear."





"What is it princess?"

"A pony by the name of Armak has come for revenge. He has the power of dark magic."





"What's wrong Twilight? Are you sick?"

"No... it's nothing like that, I-I'll explain when Celestia returns."





"Let me go!"

"I want answers dragon!"





"Spike's angry at me. He left and doesn't want to return."

"Oh no. Armak has Spike captive."





"No Twilight! If you go out there, then that's what Armak exactly wants! He'll capture you too!" 





"If I can find Spike and save him from this Armak guy, he will love me for sure!"





"Twilight! Apple Bloom's missin'!"

"And Sweetie Belle too!"

"I also can't find Scootaloo anywhere!"





"Princess! I-It's the fillies, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They must have gone after Armak!"





"It looks like this is the place."





"There you are Sweetie Belle! I was so worried."

"I'm fine sis, gosh."





Above the throne, there was a flash of darkness and a grey alicorn appeared. He took a seat on his throne.

"Are you... Armak?"

"Why, yes I am."

"Where's Spike?!"





"Now, let the execution of my plan finally begin!"

There was a flash of darkness. Spike appeared in a darker form.

"It worked! Now Equestria is mine!"





*Bang!* Spike shot Rarity with a magic blast.

"Spike, don't tell me you're working for Armak?!"

"It's not really Spike working for me. Well... his body and power are at least. I used a dark spell to turn all his hatred into power."

"You turn him back to normal right now!"





Bang! Spike shot Rainbow Dash with magic.

"Sweetie...Belle...Run."

*Punch!* *Punch!* *Punch!* Spike knocked out Applejack.

"We have to go! Now!"





"Let them go, they are not a threat. Don't worry. I'll let you finish them off later. For now, let's go have some fun in Fillydelphia."





5:30 - Canterlot Castle

Twilight was sitting outside the door of the room where Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack were getting treated. To her right were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and to her left was Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. They all took pretty hard hits, not only physically, but also emotionally. 

All they could hear is Spike saying "That, was for ignoring me!", "That, was for using me!", and "This is for not taking me with you!". They all felt guilty and ashamed. It was their fault Armak could use Spike's anger, it was them who ignored, neglected, and angered Spike, them who turned an innocent baby dragon into a monster, and most of all, it was them who made Spike feel pain like he did.

The door opened and the doctor walked out. 

Twilight was concerned for her friends. "Are they going to be alright, doctor?"

"I'm glad to say that they will make a full recovery, no major parts to their bodies were damaged, but it might take a long time to recover."

"How long?"

"It might take weeks, even months."

Twilight was stunned, Rainbow Dash and Rarity only took one hit, Applejack took many hits, but they were minor ones. Yet, they took so much damage. Twilight knew that her friends were strong, even Fluttershy was at times, so they weren't weak, Spike was just too strong. Twilight took it upon herself, it was mostly her fault that Spike was this powerful, and that he's being controlled by Armak. 

"Can I see them?" Twilight asked.

"Sure, go right ahead." The doctor stepped out of the way so Twilight could go in. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and the CMC followed.

Twilight saw her three friends in beds bandaged up, they all looked very hurt. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom went to their sisters. Scootaloo went to Rainbow Dash.

"Are you all okay?"

"Yeah, we are TOTALLY fine after getting beat by our mind controlled friend, and a dark magic wielder. Then we had to run away, and now we are stuck in hospital beds- ow!" Rainbow Dash looked at the three fillies. "This would've never happened if you three didn't run off, what were you thinking?" Rainbow Dash said while rubbing her head.

Twilight frowned.

Applejack gave Rainbow a stern look. "Stop it Rainbow Dash! Girls, don't worry about Rainbow, she's just angry she lost a fight." Applejack explained.

"Um, maybe if we give Spike something yummy to eat, he will snap out of his trance." Pinkie Pie suggested.

"Uh, is there anything we can even do? I mean, Spike holds magic now, AND he's super strong even though he's smaller than us. Not to mention that he's probably fast because of his size, and we still have this Armak guy to worry about." Rainbow Dash said.

"I don't even know if the princesses could handle them, maybe Armak or Spike alone, but if they're together then that's a problem," Twilight explained.

"Probably even Spike alone could beat us all, we only did see 3 miniature attacks from him, what if he uses a lot more power?!" Fluttershy started whimpering.

Fluttershy was right, none of them knew what Spike was fully capable of. Even Armak probably doesn't know. 

Celestia walked in the room and gasped. "What happened to you all?"

They all put their faces down in shame, and Twilight explained the situation.

"What?! Armak has Spike under control?" 

"Yeah, and it's all my fault. He wouldn't be fueled by anger and hatred if I just paid more attention to him."

"Twilight, don't you remember what we talked about? It's our fault too, not just yours." Rarity said.

"But Spike thought of me as a sister. I was a sister to him, and I didn't notice him. I made him feel lonely."

"I am even to blame Twilight, you don't have to put yourself down like this," Celestia said.

"Well, that doesn't change the fact that I feel really terrible."

"I know, I believe we all feel the same way." 

Just then, a guard came rushing in the room. "Your highness!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Princess, Fillydelphia is being attacked!"

Everypony gasped. "What?!"


6:00 - Fillydelphia

There was havoc all over the city, explosions everywhere, ponies running in fear, buildings on fire. 

On a street, a drake and an alicorn stood in front of two unconscious ponies. 

"When I searched through your memory banks, these two were the parents of the Element of Generosity," Armak explained.

"No. She's not generous, not at all." 

"Well if you say so." Armak casually charged his horn and fired at another building. "Would you like the honor of destroying their home?"

Without hesitation, Spike lifted a finger and pointed at Rarity's parent's home. He fired a magical beam, blowing up the building in the process.

"Ha, excellent! After we explore the city a bit more, let's head to Appleloosa. I believe in your memories, it stated that it is where most the Element Of Honesty's family is."

Spike grew frustrated. "What about Ponyville!"

"Yes Spike, but we must leave the best for last, I promise that you will get your revenge on those ponies. I believe the princesses will be included as well."

Spike smiled. 

"Good."

Spike and Armak continued to destroy the city. Guards approached them at times but they proved no match for Spike. Armak just simply watched, as Spike took on all the guards by himself, it was amusing to watch. Spike dodged their attacks with ease, he was fast, strong, and had magic. He took down the guards easily.

He was unstoppable.


6:10 - Canterlot Castle

They were all in the conference room. 

Luna and Cadence arrived not too long ago, and Twilight explained to them what happened back at that old Castle.

"Fillydelphia's too far, even if we went they would be gone by then." Rarity explained.

"Yeah, but what's gonna happen if Armak isn't stopped? He might attack every city in Equestria before he comes here." Rainbow Dash explained.

"Don't worry, I'll try to tell everypony to evacuate," Celestia explained.

"But where will they go? No matter where they go, all ponies... no, all creatures in Equestria will be in danger. We need to predict where Armak is going so that we can counteract him and stop him." Twilight suggested.

"To do what? We got our flanks handed to us before, and now we are too injured to even stand a chance." Rainbow Dash said.

Rainbow was right, they were not ready to face Armak and Spike just yet. Not in the condition they were in. They couldn't even train for something like this, it was either you have the power, or you don't. 

They were stuck, they didn't know what they could do. They had to think of something.

"...I know! Zecora!" Apple Bloom stated.

All heads turned to Apple Bloom.

"Zecora had a healing potion once, when I bruised my hoof I used it, and my hoof fully healed!"

"We can use the potion to heal Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack, then it will be better odds," Twilight said.

"And if one of us gets injured while fighting, we'll just use the potion to heal up," Celestia said.

"Maybe so, but what if the potion runs out? We're bound to get injured many times." Luna explained.

"Yes, but this is the only chance we have. So who will go get the potion?" Celestia asked generally.

"I'll go, I might not be a fast flyer, but it's still faster than walking, and I don't want one of the princesses risking themselves," Fluttershy said.

"Wow, that's pretty brave of you Fluttershy," Twilight said.

"Oh, it's just that I know that Armak is really far away in Fillydelphia-"

"Your highness! A town named Appleloosa is now being attacked!"

Applejack fainted.


6:30 - Appleloosa

Spike was holding the sheriff up in the air by his neck. The sheriff was majorly injured. With his other claw, Spike repeatedly punched the sheriff in his stomach. Spike soon stopped punching and while still holding him, he placed his hand on the sheriff's stomach and started to charge up a magic blast in his palm. "Before I blast you, I have something to tell you," Spike said. "Applejack took part in what I'm doing right now, so she's the one to blame for your pain." Spike released the blast. It exploded, and the sheriff was thrown back. He fell on his back while groaning.

Appleloosa was a mess. Buildings on fire, rubble on the floor, ponies panicking. Definitely not the peaceful town it was. 

Some of the stallion residents approached Spike. "How dare ya do that to tha sheriff?!" One said. 

They charged and kept taking turns bucking Spike with their hind legs, but it proved to be ineffective as Spike took the hits without flinching. 

After getting bored, Spike punched the stallions one by one until they were all knocked out. 

In the distance, Armak was clapping his hoofs. "Well done Spike, that was very entertaining to watch." 

One of the stallions Spike knocked down was really weak. "Hey, you're that dragon that Applejack was talking about aren't ya? Her friend's assistant."

"Is that all she described me as? An assistant?"

"Y-Yeah."

"So I guess I was never her friend after all."

"Why would she befriend an evil dragon as yourself."

Spike gave no response, both physically, and verbally. 

"Come on Spike, I believe Manehattan is where the rest of The Element of Honesty's family is."

Spike and Armak left in a flash of darkness. The stallion was stunned hearing the city Manehattan.


7:00 - Manehattan

Spike mainly looked for Applejack's family. He applied torment to most of her family already. There were just some left that didn't get to experience the fun yet.

Spike walked around Manehattan, he and Armak was destroying buildings left and right. 

The dragon then saw a familiar face, he remembered the CMC with her. 

When the filly realized the dragon's gaze was at her, she was horrified.

He slowly walked up to her with a grin on his face. 

She noticed, and she ran.

He kept following her, without the slightest in change of speed, until she was trapped in an alleyway.

"Babs Seed is it? I remember when you came to Ponyville."

Babs was shaking, she was so scared. "W-What are ya gonna do to me?"

"Heh, I remember what torture you caused my three good friends back in Ponyville. They are some of the few ponies I still like and care about."

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders? We made up, we're good friends now."

"That still doesn't change the fact that you caused them pain, I even heard you made poor Sweetie Belle cry."

"I-I did?"

"Yes, you did, and now you're gonna suffer like they did."

Spike stood in front of Babs. He took his hand and gripped Babs' neck and held her up, choking her.

"No... please... stop."

Spike started to grip more tightly to the point where Babs couldn't even talk. Spike used his magic and in a flash of green light, tomatoes appeared. Spike repeatedly pelted tomatoes at Babs, then he proceeded to point his finger at Babs' belly. He charged up a magic blast in front of the tip of his finger. He was about to fire when Armak called him.

"Spike, stop. We have no time for her. Let's go."

Spike put Babs down. "You're lucky, but next time I will make you suffer more."

Spike and Armak left the destroyed Manehattan and started to wreck havoc on other cities for the next hour. 


8:00 - In A Grassland

Spike and Armak were laying against a tree.

"(Sigh) Today was good Spike. I haven't had so much fun for how long. But there is one more place we need to visit today, and that's Cloudsdale."

Spike perked up. "Cloudsdale?"

Armak noticed Spike's reaction. "Ah yes, according to your memories, you were the only one The Element Of Loyalty didn't take with her to Cloudsdale, to see some kind of performance. Heh, the Element of Loyalty is not very loyal at all. You must be excited to finally go there."

Spike nodded. 

"Tomorrow we'll go pay the Crystal Empire a visit, and then we'll go to Ponyville. How does that sound?"

Spike ignored him, only thinking of Cloudsdale with a grin on his face.

"Well then, let's go to Cloudsdale, and then we will rest for tomorrow." Armak and Spike disappeared in a flash of darkness, on their way to Cloudsdale.
> Cloudsdale Fight Back!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike and Armak stood on a nearby cloud. 

The drake looked amazed when he saw Cloudsdale, but at the same time was in rage when he remembered Rainbow Dash forgetting him.

He also had wings apparently. They had the same design as his ears, but bigger.

The two soon flew towards Cloudsdale.

As they were flying Armak asked, "Well? How do you like Cloudsdale?"

"It's... beautiful."

"Hmph, I never had any interest in beauty, but if you say so. It's your first time here huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, and if my "friends" don't bother to bring me to this place, then NO one can see this place. This place won't be beautiful when I'm done destroying it, and I'll be the last one to look at its beauty." Spike said darkly.

Spike and Armak landed on one of the border clouds of Cloudsdale. Spike pointed a finger to one of the cloud buildings to the left and fired a beam. The beam hit the cloud building and it exploded. Armak took his turn and fired at a building to the right.

...

Explosions could be heard everywhere, ponies were running and flying for their lives, and chaos was the ensue. It looked just like Manehattan, Fillydelphia, and Appleloosa, but this time, ponies were mostly flying.

After some more of their "fun", the two heard a shout.

"Stop!"

Spike and Armak were on a big lone cloud firing magic blasts when they heard somepony shout. They turned to see around fifteen pegasi approach them. 

"Oh, all you pegasi always want a fight. Can't you be a normal pony for once, and run for your pathetic lives." Armak said in annoyance.

"We are here to stop you. You have no right to destroy Cloudsdale." One of the stallions said.

Armak started laughing.

"Why are you doing this?" A mare asked.

"Oh, we are simply having fun, right Spike?"

Spike gave the group of pegasi no expression. "I don't have anything against Cloudsdale, but you all enjoy it here while I get left behind by my so-called "friends"," Spike said irritated.

The pegasi exchanged confused glances, 

"Um, you have wings. You can just visit anytime." One said.

"Before I didn't have wings, now is different, and if I can't enjoy Cloudsdale, then no one can!"

The pegasi were still confused. 

"Well anyways, just stop and leave!" Another ordered.

"And if we don't, what are you going to do about it?" Armak asked with a grin.

The pegasi gave up negotiating and charged the two chaos makers. 

Armak stood back. "I believe you can handle this Spike."

The fifteen pegasi proved no match for Spike. He was far too fast so neither of them couldn't hit him. If their attack did connect it didn't effect Spike because of his strength. The pegasi soon came up with strategies like surrounding him, or flying above him, but these didn't work either. Spike soon knocked all of them down.

"I have no business of finishing you off, leave now!" Spike commanded.

Some limping, the pegasi gave up and decided to fly away.

Armak grinned, they were all scared. They couldn't stop them. And Spike didn't even use magic as of yet.

Spike was about to turn around but then he saw another pegasus fly down to face him.

"You pegasi are getting annoying." Armak was vexed.

The pegasus facing Spike had yellow fur, an orange mane, and orange tail.

"I won't let you hurt any fellow pony, or destroy Cloudsdale!" The mare said.

"After I beat a group pegasi, you think you can face me alone? How foolish." Spike said.

"I'm not like other ponies."

"Hmm..." Spike inspected the pony mare. "I think I remember you from somewhere... I just can't remember." He said in thought.

"The name's Spitfire. I'm the captain of the Wonderbolts."

"Oh yeah, now I remember! You were the drill sergeant when Rainbow Dash went to try out for the Wonderbolts some time before."

"What?! You know Rainbow Dash? Have you been spying on us?"

"No, I was Rainbow's friend," He said with a smirk.

"Okay enough with your lies, Rainbow Dash wouldn't befriend a monster. I came here to stop you." Spitfire rushed towards Spike and landed a punch to Spike's chest. It had no effect, so Spitfire pulled back before Spike had a chance to get hold of her. "That did nothing, but I used a lot of force!" She examined.

"Spike may be small but he is also strong," Armak explained.

Spike rushed up to Spitfire very fast and removed the distance between them in a split second. He then grabbed Spitfire by the neck with his right claw and held her up.

"And also very fast," He added.

Spike stared daggers at the pony in his grasp. "For your information, Rainbow's the monster." Spike charged up a magic blast in his free claw. "She's the one who ignored me. The one who always put me down. The one who relentlessly neglected me." He proceeded to put his claw with a charged blast attack against Spitfire's chest. "So if anypony's a monster, it's her, and the others of course." He was about to blast Spitfire away when a light turquoise pegasus flew in, and knocked Spike in the chest, making him push back a little. Spitfire was still in his grip but used this opportunity to escape. 

When she landed back on the cloud, out of Spike's grip, Spitfire looked to her right to see the pony who saved her, and she was surprised to see who it was. 

"L-Lightning Dust?"

"Yep, that's me." Lightning Dust took a look at Spike and realized something. "Hey, Rainbow mentioned a dragon when we were at the academy, she said that it was the only dragon in Equestria or something like that."

Spike crossed his arms. "Hmph, let me guess. She described me as an assistant?" 

"Yeah she did, you were the assistant to her other friend?"

"Yeah I was, but I guess that's all I am to her."

"Rainbow said that you were a kind dragon, but it looks like she was wrong."

"Spike was very kind-hearted until I brought out his true emotions," Armak explained.

"I don't care what you did, I am going to stop you. Let's go, Spitfire!"

Spitfire and Lightning Dust rushed Spike, and attacked, but alas, their attacks were ineffective. 

Spike quickly held them both by the necks and was squeezing hard. He was about to finish them, but they vanished from his grip. He turned around and saw the Wonderbolts with Spitfire and Lightning Dust.

"The Wonderbolts got faster." Spike, said with no emotion.

The Wonderbolts simply replied with a barrage of attacks. This time, however, Spike blocked them. They were trained flyers after all. The Wonderbolts didn't have a chance against Spike. 

Spike soon enough, got bored and used his magic to push away the Wonderbolts. 

Spike crossed his arms and turned to see Spitfire and Lightning Dust looking at him angrily. "I'll give you one more chance, leave now. I don't have any interest in destroying you both, but if you're in my way I'll have no choice."

"We won't just sit around while you destroy Cloudsdale!" Spitfire said.

"Well then, you'll just have to feel the same pain that Rainbow Dash did... But first." Spike looked up and saw a huge cloud. The cloud held none other than the Wonderbolts Academy. 

Spike had no hint of regret, as he charged a blast in his palm and threw it at the Wonderbolts Academy. The cloud holding the building vanished, and the Wonderbolts Academy fell to Equestrian grounds as there was no support.

"T-The Academy!" Spitfire was mad.

Spike silently looked back at the two shocked pegasi.

Armak gave a noticeable chuckle, as Spitfire lost it. 

"How dare you! THAT TOOK US A LOT OF BITS AND TIME TO MAKE!"

"Please don't be angry at him, it was an accident." Armak said while trying, but failing to hold a laugh in.

"SHUT UP!" Spitfire charged at Spike and tried to punch him. 

Spike blocked her punch and pushed her back with his magic. Lightning Dust came from behind and tried to hold Spike's arms, but he used his magic again to push her back as well. Spike took hold of Lightning dust and punched her in the stomach, causing her to gag. He then threw her towards Spitfire, who was on the cloud ground weakly. 

Spitfire and Lightning Dust were both on the ground in pain. Spike pointed both his fingers at Lightning Dust and Spitfire and charged magic blasts at the tips. 

Armak put a hoof to Spike's shoulder. "No Spike. Wait." 

Spike stopped his attack.

"I will show you both what Spike has been going through, then you will understand his actions." Armak's horn glowed darkly. 

Spitfire and Lightning Dust went wide-eyed as they saw flashbacks of when Spike was neglected. Rainbow Dash making fun of him for not being a "real dragon". When they didn't take him to see Rainbow Dash's performance at the Best Young Flyer competition. All the times Rainbow Dash called him weak. They saw everything.

"W-Why would Rainbow do such a thing?" Lightning Dust asked.

"Oh, you might want to see this as well," Armak said. 

Lightning Dust and Spitfire saw the flashback when Spike got taken over by Armak.

"Wait? So Spike was innocent this whole time? You were the one who made this kind dragon, the monster he is now?!" Spitfire asked.

Armak started laughing. "Yes, and with him, Equestria is mine! There is nothing you can do to stop me."

Spitfire gritted her teeth. "You monster!" Spitfire attempted to punch Armak, but Armak gripped her tightly with his magic. 

Armak threw Spitfire away. "Okay Spike, finish them off."

Spike nodded. "I told you to back off, now you're going to feel the same pain that Rainbow Dash felt-"

"Stop!" 

Spike knew that voice too well, everypony else was confused. 

Spike looked up and saw the speaker. "Discord," He said with a frown.

Discord flew down and landed to block Spike from finishing the two pegasi off. "Spike, you have to stop! You are being controlled!"

"Discord: The Master Of Chaos. I wondered if I was ever going to meet you, but I'm afraid I don't need you now because I have Spike."

"Armak stop. As much as I love chaos, Spike has nothing to do with this, he's innocent." He tried to reason.

"Spike and I had an agreement: that in the end he'll be free when I beat Celestia, I will let him go," Armak explained with a smirk.

"You're not going to let him go, he's too precious to you. He's the main part of your plan." 

"Maybe so, but you can't do anything about it. Spike, destroy Discord." Armak ordered.

"No."

Armak was irritated. "What?" 

"Discord may have been bad before, but now I don't have any hatred towards him. I don't need to destroy him."

"That's foolish, finish him! Now! I am helping you get your revenge so do as I say!"

"I already said that he doesn't need to be destroyed!"

Discord used this chance. He snapped his talon and used his magic to make Spike see flashbacks of his life. Spike saw the time when he gave Rarity the red fire ruby, the time he saved the Crystal Empire, twice, the times when Twilight called him "Number one assistant", the times when he helped persuaded Twilight to go fix the cutie mark mix up, the times when he supported Twilight, the times when he was there for his friends, all the good times he had with his friends. 

Spike was glowing brightly, he started to change back. His scales on his underbelly began to turn back to the light green color it was before. With a flash of light, Spike went back to his normal self.

"W-What?! The spell has been broken?!" Armak inspected Spike, he was back to normal.

"Spike? I-Is that you?" Discord asked.

"Wha-What's happening?" Spike rubbed his head as he was pushing himself up.

"Spike! You're back to normal!" Discord said with glee.

"No! No! I will not let this happen!" Armak charged his horn and dark aura surrounded Spike. 

Spike looked at the dark aura and found himself screaming in pain a moment later, as the aura forced its way in through his scales. 

"I control you now! You will not just walk away from me!" Armak's eyes glowed a black mist.

Spike changed back to his dark form again. 

Armak started to laugh again. "See Discord? Spike is mine! I'll use him to conquer Equestria!"

Discord stopped his little celebration and had a look of disbelief. "No, this can't be!"

"And now I can see that you'll be a problem, so..." Armak made a huge red Crystal appear with his magic. "You'll all love this crystal prison." Armak horn glowed. 

Discord and the two weak pegasi turned into a flash of darkness and were transported inside the crystal. 

With another flash of darkness, Armak and Spike teleported away from the destroyed Cloudsdale.


9:00 - Canterlot Castle

"I got it!" Fluttershy stepped in the room and took out the healing potion from her saddlebag. It was a bottle of white liquid.

"Great! Now we'll have an advantage." Twilight said.

"How will we fight against Spike sister?" Luna asked.

"I don't know, but if we can't bring him back to normal... we'll have no choice but to take... drastic measures..."

Twilight had a determined face. "No! It won't come to that! I will find a way to save him, he deserves that." Twilight said.

"And we're with you." Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight looked to her right and saw her five friends. They were all standing there, except Pinkie who was bouncing, and they were smiling at Twilight. Twilight smiled back.

"When are we going to face them?" Cadence asked.

"We'll see them when they attack Ponyville. Ponyville is close to here, so we will definitely know when they attack there." Celestia explained.

"Hopefully, we can save him." Twilight quietly said to herself.


DAY 4 - 12:00 PM - Grassland

Armak stretched his wings and legs with a slight grunt. "Well Spike, I suppose we should go pay the Crystal Empire a visit now."

"No, we are going to Ponyville!"

"What? Are you disobeying me again."

"I said NO! I have no meaning to destroy the Crystal Empire, I have been known as a hero there!" He angrily explained.

Armak remembered what he saw in Spike's memory. He didn't only save the Crystal Empire once, but twice. "Okay fine, I'll just destroy it myself another time. Let's go to Ponyville."
> The Power Of Hatred
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and her friends were all sitting in a room, quiet, waiting for Armak's next move. The tension was unbearable.

"Where are you, Spike?" Twilight quietly asked herself. 

Suddenly, Cadence walked into the room. "Princess Celestia is calling all of you," She informed.

The Mane Six followed Cadence to the throne room where Celestia and Luna were sitting on their throne discussing something that seemed important. When they trotted up to the two, Celestia looked at Twilight, and she had a very serious look on her face.

"What is it, Princess?" Twilight asked.

"I got a report that... Cloudsdale has been attacked." Celestia said sadly.

"WHAT?!" Everypony yelled in shock, mostly Rainbow.

Twilight put a hoof to her chin in thought. "Spike doesn't have wings, h-he shouldn't be able to even stand on Cloudsdale," She explained.

"I know, and that is why I called you all. I don't know if Armak carried him all the way there, or if Spike grew wings in that short period of time, or..."

"Spike is getting even stronger. Before we barely stood a chance, but now he's probably unbeatable." Rarity said.

"Calm down y'all, just because Spike has wings doesn't mean he's that much stronger," Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack with a stern look. "Applejack, you should be the last one to talk, you were the one complaining that I was using my wings when I beat you in our competition for 'best athlete'..." Rainbow Dash said.

"A-ah guess you're right," Applejack admitted.

"Come on, we can do this. We've gotten into bigger jams before. Mmmmm, jaaam!" Pinkie Pie said.

"I agree with Pinkie, and even though I'm frightened, we have got into messes before and it always turned out okay," Fluttershy said.

"Y-You're right! Maybe we do still have a chance. We do have that potion." Rainbow said with a weak smile.

"Well, at least, we got the motivation part down," Twilight said.

"Cadence, Luna, and myself will assist you as well," Celestia explained.

"Hey! Don't forget about me!" Shining Armor stepped into the throne room.

"Shining!" Twilight ran up and gave her big brother a hug.

"I'll help too, I am the head of the royal guard after all."

Twilight smiled when she heard that she'll be fighting aside her big brother.

"Shining, you know that this is very dangerous right?" Celestia was concerned.

"I know, but I'll be fine. As long as I am with my little sis and Cadence to keep them safe." Shining and Twilight smiled to each other.

"Now is the waiting game. We'll wait for Armak to come near to us, near Ponyville." Luna said.

"Right, but I wonder where Discord is? The last time I saw him was when he was sensing Sweetie Belle's magic." Celestia wondered.



1:00 - A Hill Near Ponyville

"So that's Ponyville, the town that you hate. The town that treated you wrong, that neglected you. And the last part of Equestria we destroy before Canterlot." Armak said, already feeling triumphant.

"Revenge..." Spike simply grinned. He didn't have his wings anymore. Did Armak use a dark spell for temporary wings?

Spike and Armak started to walk into Ponyville. Many ponies noticed him and stared, they were all still searching for Spike all this time and was glad that he was okay. But they wondered where he was all this time, and who was this new pony standing beside him.

Mrs. Cake ran up to Spike. "Spike! We have been looking all over for you! We heard all about your story and we're all really sorry." She then scratched her head. "Have you noticed that your scales changed color?" She asked.

Spike, showing no emotion, asked her, "Is Pinkie Pie here?"

Mrs. Cake was confused about his sudden mention of Pinkie Pie. "N-No she's in Canterlot."

Spike took a look at Sugarcube corner. He grinned and went into the bakery to grab Pinkie Pie's pet, Gummy, who was failing to bite into a chair leg. He took Gummy outside and placed him down beside him. 

Gummy blinked once and licked his lips.

Mrs. Cake was, even more, confused. "What do you need Gummy for?"

Spike pointed his finger at Sugarcube corner and fired a lime green beam. Time seemed to slow down as Mrs. Cake watched the beam slowly heading towards their bakery. When the beam hit home, it exploded, destroying the building.

Everypony was shocked especially Mrs and Mr. Cake. "S-Sp-Spike! What have you done?!" To much more of their demise, the Cake twins started giggling.

Ponies ran in fear and took their children with them. A gray pegasus mare carrying a purple unicorn foal in her hoofs dropped a muffin, but for the first time in her life, she didn't- ...wait, she went back for the muffin and picked it up, taking a bite in the process. The Cakes took their foals and ran as fast as they could. Lyra and Bon Bon ran past a shaking brown stallion who soon decided to sprint for his life as well. Cheerilee rushed the kids out and helped some of the adults gallop away.

This resulted in others on the other side of Ponyville to start panicking.

"Pinkie, that was for not inviting me to your parties," Spike said full of hate.

Armak looked annoyed. "Why did you waste time bringing that animal out here," He said, referring to Gummy.

"I didn't want to harm him. It's a long story, but I wanted to look after him for some gems. So I have some history with him." 

Armak shrugged. "So, what are you going to destroy next? I'll let you decide."

"Carousel Boutique is not far from here. I'll go there next." 

Spike and Armak soon approached Carousel Boutique. Spike did the same as last time and brought out Rarity's pet, Opalescence. Spike then proceeded to blow up Carousel Boutique. "That was for taking advantage of my crush, Rarity."

"I don't see the trouble in sparring these pets, but whatever you want. Just remember that it's going to be my decisions when we are in Canterlot."

"I don't care," Spike said.

Spike headed off to Rainbow Dash's cloud. He brought out Tank with his magic and destroyed the cloud. "Not so 'lame' now, huh Rainbow?" Spike then made his journey to the Apple farm. 

Ponies were so scared they couldn't move. Spike noticed this and chuckled. Spike was still heading to the farm when he noticed two fillies. When the fillies saw him looking at them they were scared.

"Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon."

"Wha-what do you want from us?" Silver said, horrified.

"I've heard many things, like you picking on my three friends."

"Wh-Who?" Diamond Tiara asked stupidly.

"Don't play dumb with me. Apple Bloom."

Their eyes widened.

"Scootaloo."

They started to shake.

"And Sweetie Belle."

They started to sweat.

"W-Why would someone like you care for them, a trio of blank flanks!"

"You called them "Blank Flanks" again..." Spike looked coldly at them.

They gulped.

"You will pay, for making them upset," Spike remembered something that will traumatize them. "Oh, don't worry, I already took care of Babs."

Tiara and Silver Spoon were shaking, they were so scared. The thought of what Spike did to Babs was rushing their heads.

Spike slowly walked up to them. "Not running away? Good. Looks like you know that you deserve this punishment." Spike grabbed both of them by the neck, and squeezed tightly, causing them to gasp in pain. "Don't worry, I'll keep the punishment fair between you two and Babs."  Tomatoes came out of nowhere and splatted on their heads. He then threw them away. They were weak from the tight squeezing.

Spike made his way to the Apple Farm. Some ponies tried to block his way, but he simply pushed them aside with a powerful force of magic.

"He's too strong." One pony said.

"We need to get out of here." Another said.

Many ponies grew fond of the idea and ran away.

Spike arrived at the farm. He brought out Winona, but he didn't see Granny Smith or Big McIntosh. He destroyed the house and the barn. Spike then went to the Apple orchard. He inhaled, and blew his fire and burned every single tree to ashes. "I remember when you left me on that ice block at winter wrap up, Applejack." 

Spike went over to Fluttershy's cottage next. He didn't have trouble getting all the animals out, he just used his magic to carry all of them. There was one more animal that Fluttershy had. It was her personal pet, Angel.

"Angel? Where are you? It's me, Spike!"

Angel slowly hopped down the stairs. He was confused to see Spike, largely because his changed scale color. 

"What? I just wanted to see you. Come outside, I need to show you something."

Suspicious, Angel followed Spike outside. He was expecting something to see, like a gift, or an amazing display, but then he heard an explosion behind him. He looked and saw the cottage destroyed. Angel was shocked.

Spike started to laugh. "You like my renovation?"

Angel was too shocked to even move. The other animals ran away, panicking. 

"See you later Angel, hope you like your new and improved home. I don't need anything in return, I did this simply because you were so nice to me when I had to take care of you when Fluttershy was busy helping out at the Crystal Empire. " Spike said sarcastically.

Spike left the scene as Angel just stood there, looking at his destroyed home.

Spike finally went to the Golden Oaks Library. He saved the best for last.

"This is your home Spike?" Armak asked a question with an obvious answer.

"No, this was my home. Let me take one last look at it."

Armak waited outside as Spike observed his old home.

"So many memories here, yet I can't remember any good ones," He said as he placed a claw on one of the bookshelves.

Spike stepped into each room, remembering everything except the good memories because Armak corrupted his mind. He grew angrier each room he revisited. Spike went upstairs to his and Twilight's, or just Twilight's bedroom. Spike looked at the bed and the basket. "She didn't even give me a proper bed," Spike said angrily. 

Owlowiscious came into the room through the window. 

"Hello, Owlowiscious, nice to see you again." Spike lied.

"Who?"

"Heh, I'm not going to bother with that Garbage." 

"Who-"

Spike grabbed Owlowiscious by the neck and took him outside. "Thank goodness I saw you Owlowiscious. I would have forgotten you in there."

"W-Who?"

"Watch, as I destroy 'our' home." Spike forced Owlowiscious to look at the Library. Spike pointed a finger at the tree and started to charge a beam. "You made me look like a fool in front of Twilight, and after this, I have a reward I need to give you."  Spike was about to fire, but a small blast came from the right, Spike stopped his attack to reflect the blast. Owlowiscious used the opportunity to escape Spike's claws. 

Spike looked towards where the blast came from. He saw the pony who fired it.

"You can't be serious? Trixie?" 

"Yes, it is I, the great, and powerful Trixie!"

"Who is she Spike?" Armak asked even though he searched through his memories.

"A pony who loves to boast. I didn't expect to run into her, but we were all around Equestria and we didn't see her anywhere." Spike stared at the show mare and grunted. "I can't even stand looking at her, I hated her the moment I watched her perform."

"When Trixie saw you with Twilight before you were never like this. You were kind to your friends."

"Maybe so, but a lot has changed since we last met. Also, I can't stand the third-person talking."

"Spike? Is she anything I should worry about? If not, then I'll sit this one out." Armak said.

"You're not going to fight me? Coward!" Trixie said.

"No, it's just that Spike can handle you by himself," Armak explained.

"Ha, last time I used him with my magic against his own will, he's weak."

"Well, you didn't get the update? I guess I'll have to show you!"
> An Unreachable Power
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike and Trixie charged at each other. 

Trixie fired a spell at Spike, but he deflected it and fired his own. 

She used her teleportation spell to dodge and teleported above Spike, and landed a direct magic blast to the head, creating a cloud of smoke.

She landed back down beside the smoke readying herself for another attack.

With a shout of fury, Spike burst out the smoke and tried to attack Trixie. She, however, had different plans and teleported out of the way before Spike could land a hit.

When she reappeared from the teleportation she immediately fired a blast from her horn.

Spike turned and couldn't react fast enough to dodge the magic attack. 

After the blast hit its target, Trixie began to rapidly fire more blasts from her horn.

Spike tried to withstand his ground.

"Pure strength doesn't always win a fight. If I use strategy I could win. At least, until that other pony comes in and intervenes- No! Trixie must win. Trixie must end this madness."

After some more blasts and more smoke, Trixie stopped her barrage. She was breathing heavily.

After the smoke cleared, you could see that Spike was dazed for a second. He soon recovered and looked at where Trixie once was.  

She pounced on him from behind and tried to hold him down. After Spike struggled a bit, Trixie lit up her horn and levitated him up off the ground just to slam him back down.

"This," Slam! "is for," Slam! "Equestria!" Slam! Slam! Slam!

She continued to do this for awhile until she thought Spike had enough.

She looked at the crater in front of her satisfied. "The Great and Powerful Trixie won't be done in by some weak dragon," She said in between breaths.

Soon, however, Spike picked himself back up.

Trixie reacted quickly and forced him back with her magic.

Spike got knocked back into a large rock. It looked like he was getting weaker. Trixie charged up her horn and fired a blast. Spike tried to repel the blast with his own, but it proved ineffective. Spike got sent flying back once again.

"This is for all of the destruction you have caused." Trixie ran up to Spike and punched his stomach with a magic encased hoof. Spike was holding his stomach in pain, he tried to hit Trixie, but she teleported behind him and knocked him down once again. 

"See? Like I said before, you're weak."

"Hehe... Ha ha ha ha... Ha ha HA HA HA HA..." Spike and Armak started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Didn't you notice?" Spike asked.

"Notice what?" 

"These scales are pretty cool armor."

"Wha... What?"  

"Hehe, I was playing around with you this whole time. Heck, I didn't feel any of that just now." 

Trixie was shocked to see that he was right. His body looked perfectly fine, not even a scratch.

Trixie was annoyed. "You were playing around?"

"You will now see, my power that you cannot reach." Spike moved so fast that it looked like he disappeared. 

"What, where did he go?"

"I would look above you!" Armak shouted out.

Trixie looked above, and Spike was about to drop on her. Trixie teleported out of the way just in time to avoid Spike's hard drop.

"Well, if Armak never told you where I was, then I guess you'd be on the ground in pain. But at least, I get to have some more fun."

Trixie was still breathing heavily from the past magic usage. "Why? Why are you doing this? You were never like this!"

"Why? I'm doing this for my ultimate revenge against the ponies I once called my family and friends. They used me, and mistreated me."

"Then why all this? Don't you think I heard about the other main cities? You've destroyed them all!"

Spike started to chuckle.

"You don't care, you're a monster!" Trixie explained.

Trixie rushed up to Spike and started to deliver a lot of punches. Spike, however, blocked them and caught her hoofs. Spike then kneed her in the stomach and threw her away.

Trixie was on the ground in pain. She struggled to get up. 

"I would stay on the ground if I were you."

"What? So you could terrorize Equestria some more?"

"Even though I dislike you, I don't want to waste my time."

"Then why waste time destroying everything."

Spike raised his claw and pointed his finger at Trixie. "I told you not to get up." Spike fired a beam at Trixie, and it blew up on impact. 

Trixie collapsed but got back up eventually.

"You're so insistent, just give up, you lost."

"No, I won't just sit here and let you do whatever you want."

"Fine, just remember that I will show you the pain I will deal to Twilight later."

Trixie started to charge her horn. She was getting ready for a big attack. Trixie took a while to charge, and Spike just stood there and let her. After a minute, she pointed her horn at Spike. "This is for all of the ponies in Equestria! Take it!" Trixie fired her blast. It was really large compared to the other blasts so far. The blast was as big as Ponyville, luckily, she pointed away from Ponyville when she fired, to avoid destroying it. After the blast was over, there was smoke everywhere.

"D-Did I win?" 

She gasped when she heard the laughter of the same drake she fired at. The smoke cleared and it revealed an unharmed Spike. 

"B-but how? I put everything into that!" Trixie questioned herself.

"That was nothing compared to the pain I suffered. No one will understand, the pain I went through cannot be reached."

"I-I failed, my full power did nothing to him," Trixie said while falling unconscious.

"Hmph! Well, that didn't last that long." Spike said.

Armak walked over to Spike. "Well, her power is high above the average Unicorn. There is a possibility that she could become a threat later if we leave her here." Armak used his magic to summon a red crystal. Trixie turned into a dark mist entered the crystal like Discord and the others.

"Spike!" Somepony shouted in the distance.

Spike looked over and saw that it was Twilight, the rest of the Mane Six, and Princesses running towards him. Spike smiled.

Rainbow Dash was shocked. "S-So he doesn't have wings! How in Equestria did he get on Cloudsdale?!"

"Armak! We have come to stop you!" Twilight said as they stopped in their tracks.

Armak couldn't hold a laugh. "Do you know how many times I've heard that same sentence? And all the times they've failed!"

"Not this time! We won't fail, Equestria counts on it."

"Well Spike, I might have to step in on this one."

"Just leave them to me." Spike said referring to the Mane Six.

"I know, I will take on the Princesses."

Spike stood in front of the Mane Six, and Armak stood in front of the three Princesses and Shining Armor.

"We have to help Twily and the others," Shining said.

"I'm afraid not. They are the only ones capable of bringing the real Spike back." Celestia explained.

Spike grinned madly. "I've been waiting for this moment!" He began. "I will finally have my revenge!"

Twilight had to come up with a plan. "Girls! Distract Spike." She whispered.

"What? Why?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I need time to perform this spell. This "Original Reset" spell, makes the pony, or in this case, dragon, return to its original state. All spells are taken off of him, and I believe Spike will turn back to normal if I can hit him with it. So I need all of you to stall him because I need to concentrate a lot of magic to take off the powerful dark magic."

"If time's what you need, you got it." Rainbow Dash said. 

The others nodded agreeing with Rainbow Dash.

"Let's go girls!" Applejack yelled out.

They all rushed Spike except Fluttershy who had the healing potion. 

Once they were near, Spike blew them away with his magic. 

Pinkie popped out from behind Spike. No pony could ever predict where she comes from, and Spike was no different. She pulled out a party cannon from Pinkie knows where, and fired it. 

An actual canon ball came out of it instead of confetti and streamers. 

Spike caught the ball, and thrashed it back at the cannon, destroying it. He then rushed to Pinkie Pie and punched her in the stomach. Pinkie was screaming and flying backwards high in the air. 

Applejack twirled a rope from her tail and lassoed Spike, restricting his arms to his sides. 

"Didn't you learn from last time?" Spike said, letting the rope tighten around him.

Applejack thought to herself. "If ah can hold down Spike, Twilight can hit him with that spell easily."

Spike took hold of the rope and pulled. This made Applejack hold the rope in her hooves and pull as well. 

It was a game of tug-of-war. 

Applejack was getting tugged slowly, grazing the dirt below her. He was too strong for her. 

Soon enough, he made one big yank, and Applejack came flying towards him. Spike took hold of Applejack by the neck and kneed her in the stomach. 

Rainbow Dash was coming from above. "I don't know about Cloudsdale, but you can't fly so being in the air is an advantage for me!"

"Oh really?" Flames appeared on Spike's back, and suddenly the flames formed dragon wings. They had the same design as his ears, but bigger.

Rainbow was shocked. "What!"

Spike dropped Applejack and flew up to kick Rainbow Dash in the gut. He then flew above the stunned pony and knocked her down to the surface with his elbow. 

It was a hard impact, and it caused a little crater.

"How?! I never heard of a spell like this!" Rarity asked.

"Oh, this is not magic," Spike said while landing beside the hole the impact created. "These are my real wings, I can turn them on and off like a light bulb. It's great for strategies, on the ground I don't need them, they are basically in the way, so I turn them off, making me weigh less as well." Spike said as his wings disappeared in a flame.

"S-So that's how you were able to get to Cloudsdale," Rainbow said weakly. 

"Yeah, it's pretty neat. Too bad. We could have raced." Spike picked up Rainbow with one claw by the neck and charged a blast in the other.

"Ah won't let ya." Applejack lassoed Spike's free claw.

"You don't learn." Spike pulled the rope and reeled Applejack in. He took hold of her as well.  

"NO! Stop Spikey!" Rarity screamed as she ran towards Spike. She fired a magic blast at Spike through her horn. 

Spike used his tail and gripped the blast with it. He squeezed the magic attack and it burst like a bubble. 

"Heh, I didn't know you could fire blasts and beams as well, Rarity. You really can do anything to save your friends." If you were to look at Spike right now, you would see pure hatred. "Too bad you didn't do anything for me." 

Spike dropped the two ponies he was holding and teleported. He appeared behind Rarity and elbowed her down to the ground, but before she landed on the ground he kicked her away. "Hmm? I wonder what Twilight and Fluttershy are doing."

Meanwhile

"Um, Twilight are you done?" Fluttershy said as she was standing in front of Twilight as a pony shield.

"Just... a couple... more minutes." Twilight had a strained face and was sweating because of all the magic she was generating.

With Armak And The Princesses

Armak raised a dark shield and deleted another magic blast. "Looks like Spike's having fun over there," He said while chuckling.

"Pay attention to us, we're the ones you're facing," Luna replied.

Armak just simply laughed.

"Stop all of this Armak! Those ponies may be fighting for Equestria, but in reality, they are trying to save their closest friend." Celestia begged.

"Hmph, they brought this on themselves. They shouldn't have treated him the way they did."

Back To Spike And The Mane Three

Rainbow was on the ground injured. Applejack was beside Rainbow covering her. Pinkie was nowhere to be seen and Rarity was getting up from the last assault. 

"So are we done yet? Come on! I want to play more." Spike said.

"I'll play with you!" Somepony said in their cheerful voice. 

Spike turned around and saw Pinkie Pie coming from behind with a big cart full of pies and cakes. "Hope you don't mind Applejack, I borrowed some Apple Pies." 

"P-Pinkie? Where did you get the cart, and how did you get all of that dessert so fast?" Rarity asked, bedaffled.

"Oh, thanks, Pinkie! I'll be sure to eat that after I'm done here. Is there any gems on those?" Spike said as a joke.

"Oops, sorry I forgot. Anyways, let's play the game!" Pinkie started to pick up and throw the pies and cakes. The first pie hit Spike's face and Pinkie started to laugh. Spike, however, got annoyed. 

He dodged and blocked most of the desserts with his magic even taking some bites of it, but he was still covered in cake, cream, and icing. 

"Oh, looks like you lost! I guess you're pretty mad huh?" Pinkie gave a nervous laugh knowing who Spike's next target is. 

Spike used his magic and the dessert vanished. 

As he was heading towards Pinkie Pie, Applejack looked over to Twilight. "Twi's still not ready. We need to buy a little more time." She then turned to Fluttershy. "Hey, Fluttershy! Get over here! Rainbow needs some of that potion!"

Spike had Pinkie in a head lock. "I'm going to break you," Spike squeezed Pinkie's neck. "like a chocolate bar." 

"Mmmm, I like chocola-" Pinkie squeaked, and fell to the floor, eyes squinting shut in pain. 

Spike looked over to the others and his eyes widened in shock when he saw that Rainbow was standing up. "She doesn't look damaged at all! But I saw her impact with the ground!" 

Spike was, even more, frustrated. "It even looks like those two are feeling better as well. I'd better fix that." He said darkly.

"Thanks, Fluttershy," Rainbow said.

"You're welcome, but I think Spike is coming this way... WAIT? WHAT!" Fluttershy ran back to Twilight.

Spike growled and shook his fist in rage. "You just can't stay down! I don't know how all three of you recovered, but I know I won't go soft on you anymore! In the end, you'll all end up like Pinkie Pie." Spike pointed to Pinkie.

They all gasped.

"What did you do?!" Rainbow Dash yelled.

"Heh, she's not getting up after that," Spike said satisfied.

The three huddled up.

"Okay, we need to get some of that potion to Pinkie Pie quickly! Rainbow and I will hold off Spike. Rarity, you go get some of the potion and give it to Pinkie, she only needs a drop of it to recover." Applejack planned.

Rarity and Rainbow nodded. 

Rarity ran off to get the potion, and Rainbow took her stance next to Applejack.

"I don't know where you sent her, but whatever she does the result will be the same."

"And what's that?" Rainbow asked.

"All of you down on the ground pleading for forgiveness."

"We want your forgiveness, but not from who ya are now, Spike. We want the old Spike back." Applejack said.

"I am the 'old' Spike. I've always been Spike." 

Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Not the Spike we know. The Spike we know would never do any of this." Rainbow Dash explained.

"But I am doing this. Right before your eyes. Or are you both blind?"

Rarity was with Fluttershy who had the potion, and they reached Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie, drink this, it's the potion," Fluttershy said as she poured a little bit of the potion in Pinkie's mouth. They both heard a gulp and Pinkie jumped up.

"Mmmmm! I don't know what that tasted like, but it was good!" 

Spike rushed the two ponies who stood before him. He fake-punched and teleported behind the two.

He quickly used his tail to grab Rainbow by the neck and held her up. Applejack tried to hit Spike but failed when he dodged and grabbed her by the waist.

Spike slammed the ponies against one another and then on the ground. They were both in pain. 

Spike looked behind him when he heard somepony yell. He was shocked to see Pinkie Pie perfectly fine hoping around. "W-WHAT?! How are they- Wait... When I saw Rainbow Dash mysteriously get up after her beatings I saw Fluttershy there for some reason... and now, I see Fluttershy right next to Pinkie... FLUTTERSHY!!!"

Fluttershy heard Spike yell her name out and she was terrified. 

"Oh no! Spike must have seen Fluttershy with the potion! Pinkie, we have to protect Fluttershy!" Rarity said. 

Spike teleported over to Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. "I don't know exactly what's happening, but now I'm going to focus on you, Fluttershy!"

"EEP!" Fluttershy was frightened.

"Stop Spike!" Pinkie and Rarity tried to say with hoofs out.

Spike quickly rushed up to Rarity and Pinkie and punched them in the stomach with a fire encased claw. With that one blow, they were both down. "Don't get in my way!"

It was only Fluttershy left. All of her friends were down, and Twilight was still occupied with the spell.

Armak The Princesses And The Prince

As Armak fired a beam at Celestia, who flew to the right to dodge, Cadence noticed the others' situation.

"We have to help her!" Cadence tried to run up to Fluttershy but was blocked by Armak's barrier. "Damn you!"

"'No one will interfere', remember? 'Only they can save Spike.'" Armak started laughing.

Cadence shot a beam at Armak, but he put a barrier over himself. 

Back To Fluttershy

Fluttershy tried to run away, but Spike followed her. Every time she tried to hide Spike would find her. She hid behind rocks, but Spike would blast them away. There was no way out of this.

She couldn't feed the potion to any of her friends fast enough before Spike could get to her. She was by herself.

Soon enough, Fluttershy ran into the dreaded corner. Big rocks had cut her off from escaping.

"Nowhere to run huh, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy started to whimper under her hoofs.

Spike started to laugh. "It's over."

Spike was about to fire a blast, but then he saw Twilight behind him ready to fire her spell. 

Twilight was glowing white. Sparks of what seemed magic encased her horn.

"Oh no! I totally forgot about Twilight!"

Twilight aimed her horn at Spike and fired the spell. Spike had nowhere to run, he was in the same corner as Fluttershy. 

Spike stood wide-eyed, lost for words as he got hit with the Original Reset spell.
> Friendship Vs Hatred 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike was standing still checking himself for any damage. To his surprise, he hadn't taken any injuries.

"D-Did it work? Spike? Is that you?" Twilight asked.

"Ha! That magic did nothing to him! He's perfectly fine! Fools, I win!" Armak started laughing.

"You are the fool. That magic was not for hurting Spike, it was but a spell." Luna explained.

This immediately made Armak stop laughing. "Wait? WHAT?!"

Purple aura representing Twilight's magic surrounded Spike. The Dark magic was escaping Spike's body through his scales. 

Spike looked at himself confused. 

"NO! I will not allow this! Spike is mine!" Armak charged his horn.

"Stop!" Cadence fired a beam at Armak.

Armak grunted and tilted his head to the left to avoid the beam. He then shot a beam at Cadence.

Shining Armor ran in front of Cadence, "No!" and took the hit for her. He fell down to the ground in front of his wife.

"Shining!" Cadence screamed for her husband.

Armak proceeded to cast his own spell on Spike, his horn radiating with dark magic. 

A dark aura surrounded Spike once again, and he clenched his chest in pain. 

"Spike, fight it! Armak's trying to take you over." Twilight called out.

Spike was fighting as much as he could. The pain in his chest was unbearable. Spike was changing back and forth from his dark form to his normal form every second. 

Armak made one last release of his magic. 

Spike was now glowing mostly black, Armak's spell was winning the battle.

2:00 - Spike's Mind

It was a dark void. No light was visible. Dark sky, dark floor, and dark air. 

Spike was a figure in his mind. He could walk, talk, interact with things if there was even anything to interact with. 

He was getting enveloped in dark mist. He was in great pain. 

A darker form of Spike appeared beside him. "Don't fight it! We want revenge right?" It said in a demonic voice.

"Shut...up..."

"Fine then! I'll just have to force you to take our side." Dark Spike turned into a dark mist and made its way into Spike's mouth.

Spike was in even more pain, dark aura surrounded him.

2:05 - Wasteland

Spike stopped changing between his dark form and his regular form. 

He was in his dark form, Spike lost the battle. His eyes and mouth were steaming dark smoke, Spike looked even eviler than before.

"S-Spike?" Twilight looked horrified.

"You see? Like I said! Spike is mine."

"You MONSTER!" Cadence fired a blast from her horn.

Armak repelled the blast and fired at Cadence. She gasped and didn't react fast enough to dodge. She got hit and fell beside Shining Armor.

Celestia and Luna both fired at Armak. He put up a barrier and protected himself. He then proceeded to teleport behind the two princesses and trapped them both in a magic grip. 

"Now both of you watch, as Spike destroys his friends."

"Stop, please!" Celestia begged.

Armak just gave Celestia an evil grin.

Spike walked up to Fluttershy who was still trapped and scared. 

He took hold of her neck and lifted her up. He ripped off the saddle bag she was wearing and took the potion they were using with his magic. "So this is what's been happening? A healing potion. Most likely from Zecora, am I right?" Spike's voice was more demonic than before. 

He put the potion back in the saddle bag and blew his magical green fire and burned the saddlebag containing the potion.

"No!" Twilight shouted. Now they couldn't heal the others, and Fluttershy was about to get attacked as well.

Spike formed his claw into a fist and repeatedly punched Fluttershy in the stomach. Every time he landed a hit Fluttershy screamed. 

Twilight couldn't stomach this! She tried to run and help Fluttershy, but she was still stunned from using the Original Reset spell. 

"Stop! Please! ...Stop it now, Spike!" Twilight begged.

Spike paused and looked back at Twilight. He gave her an insane grin and went back to beating Fluttershy.

Spike continued to punch Fluttershy until she stopped yelling in pain. "Hm? Done already? Oh well." Spike tossed Fluttershy back to Twilight. She landed with a thud in front of her. She was not moving.

Twilight bent down to check her friend. "Fluttershy, answer me! Are you okay?" 

There was no response.

"Fluttershy..." Tears started to form. 

"This is the pain, the pain Spike suffered when you all neglected him. Now you feel his pain because you lost all of your hope. The princesses are out of your reach, and your friends aren't even awake." Armak stated.

"You...  You MONSTER!!!" Twilight's face of despair turned into one of pure anger. 

A purple aura surrounded Twilight. Her mane was levitating with a violet glow. Her face was hiding under her mane, the only thing you could see was her gritting teeth. 

After a couple of seconds of rough breathing, she looked up at Armak. "You'll never stop! You MONSTER!!!" Twilight started to power up.

"What's this?! You should have been worn out because of that massive spell you produced." Armak explained.

Twilight was still powering up. 

"I-I can feel it! Her magic! But how can this be? You can't feel magic, can you? This can't be her magic!" Armak questioned himself. 

"That is her magic Armak. She is the element of magic, and friendship is magic! She gained this power because of the love for her friends, because of her friendships! And now you will see that Dark Magic is powerless against the magic of Friendship." Celestia told.

"I would like to see her try!"

Twilight's energy could be felt all around Equestria! The intensity of it was indescribable. Ponies were sorry for whoever had to face this magic owner's wrath.

Purple lightning surrounded her. Some force was pushing Armak away, Spike was emotionless. 

"Now, I'm going to finish this! If you won't stop, I will stop you myself!" Twilight said angrily.

"Stop me. How foolish." Armak said.

Twilight started to walk towards Armak, but Spike blocked her way. "This is between me and you." 

Twilight shot a magic blast to Spike in the stomach. This time, it hurt. "I'm sorry Spike. But this is the only way. I'll try to knock you down without injuring you too badly." 

Spike was holding his chest in pain. "Now you've got me mad!" 

Spike rushed towards Twilight and attempted to punch her. Twilight flew up in the air and dodged. Spike activated his wings and chased her. 

They were clashing in mid-air. Twilight tried to punch Spike with a magic encased hoof, but he caught her hoof. Spike then tried to punch with his free claw, Twilight but caught it with her free hoof. They were interlocked, hoof and claw. Their magic engulfed each other and it was very powerful. Green and Purple lightning crackled around them. They both pushed back and proceeded to wail on each other. Both taking turns blocking and attacking, firing and dodging. Spike was smiling. 

"What's so funny?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, nothing. It's just that I'm using only twenty percent of my power." Spike explained.

Twilight gritted her teeth and rushed Spike. 

Spike was quick. He flew above and kicked Twilight down to the surface. 

Twilight got up quickly after the impact and looked around. She couldn't see Spike anywhere.

"Hey." 

Twilight got startled and looked between her hoofs. Spike was lying down on his back without his wings right under her, head resting on his two arms, leg rested on his knee. Twilight tried to stomp on Spike with her hoof, but he slid away. Twilight felt something on her back. She turned and saw Spike sitting on her, patting her back with a claw. Twilight jumped and got Spike off of her.

"Only Spike is allowed to ride me! And no you are not Spike!"

"I thought I was." Spike smiled.

Twilight tried to deliver some attacks, but Spike was too fast. He went above Twilight and elbowed her to the ground, then kicked her away. 

Twilight was on the ground in pain. Spike slowly started to walk up to her. 

"Looks like Spike's power of hatred beat Twilight's power of friendship," Armak stated.


2:30 - Spike's Mind

"Stop! Please! I don't want to hurt Twilight! Stop it! ...I've done terrible things. Twilight will never forgive me... No pony will ever forgive me..." Spike started crying. 

2:35 - Wasteland

Spike stood above Twilight who was on the ground weak. "Now, to finish you!" Spike started to charge his blast.

"No, I'm not done yet." Twilight got up.

"You don't know when to stay down!" Spike fired his blast.

Twilight teleported away, making the blast's explosion envelope Spike. When the smoke was clear, Spike seemed unharmed.

She reappeared on top of a tall rock and started to charge her horn. Purple sparks surrounding her horn. 

Spike all the while, just stood there with arms crossed. 

Armak looked closely. "She is taking longer than usual. This is not an ordinary attack." "Spike! This is a big attack! Be careful!"

Spike ignored his statement and stood there.

"Didn't you hear me? This could have an effect on you!"

"Are you saying this is the limit to my power?"

"W-What?"

"Nothing has compared to the pain I've felt before. This isn't any different."

Armak was sweating. He didn't know if he could withstand this.

Twilight was done charging up. She pointed her horn at Spike. "Spike, I'm sorry for the pain I caused you." Twilight thought to herself. "If this attack doesn't stop you, then it means that your hatred towards us is stronger than how much I care for you." She began to be teary eyed. "I never realized it before but... I thought of you as a brother, and you thought of me as a sister. I-I love you." She sobbed. "You were always there for me, where I was never there for you. I should have never treated you like the way I did. Surprisingly, Armak helped me realize that." Twilight began to form the blast in front of her horn. "Spike, I'M SORRY!" Twilight said as she fired the blast. 

The blast hit Spike and there was an explosion. Smoke, and rocks flying everywhere.

"Comparing to how he handled the other attacks, this should have been enough to at least get him immobile until we can reverse the spell-" She gasped.

Through the smoke, two green glowing eyes could be seen.

"N-No! This can't be!"

Slight chuckling could be heard.

Twilight's eyes widened.

When the smoke cleared. Spike was standing there, completely unharmed.

Before she could do anything, Twilight collapsed from the enormous magic use and fell off of the tall rock. She hit the ground and didn't move. 

"No!" Luna cried.

"T-Twilight!" Celestia called out.

There was no response from the fallen alicorn.

Spike walked up to her and charged a blast in his palm. "Now, my revenge... will be complete." 

"...Go ahead."

"What?" Spike was confused.

"I said go ahead. My power of friendship lost to your power of hatred. I've realized how much pain we've caused you now. More despair than I can ever imagine. My power came from how much I wanted you to come back to us, as the real Spike. How much I loved you. How much I cared for you. How much I wanted my brother to come back. I'm sorry..." In her position, the tears escaping her eyes fell horizontally down her cheek.

3:00 - Spike's Mind

Tears were flowing when Spike heard what Twilight said. "T-Twilight..." Spike started to scream. "STOP! DON'T! PLEASE!"

3:00 - Wasteland

Spike finished charging the blast in his palm and aimed at Twilight.

"Goodnight... sister."
> Don't Give Up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This is the end!" Spike was about to fire but stopped when he saw Rainbow getting up. "You were always the one who was so persistent, Rainbow Dash." He spat.

"S-Stop..." Rainbow said weakly.

The others started to get up as well, except Fluttershy and Twilight.

Spike chuckled. "Fine, I'll stop." The magic blast in Spike's palm disappeared. 

"What?" Rainbow's eyes went wide.

"I'll stop my assault against Twilight... for now. So I guess I'll focus on all of you then!" Spike bolted up and punched Rainbow in the face.

"Rarity, hurry!" Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she was flying back.

Rarity made her way to Twilight without letting Spike notice. She saw the beaten up Twilight on the ground. "T-Twilight, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She sounded sad.

"Oh! Good. Can you move?"

"I'm not hurt at all. Like I said, I'm fine."

"Then get up, we need your help right now." Rarity looked and saw Spike using his tail to put Applejack in a headlock while attacking the other two.

"Don't you understand? We lost."

Rarity was shocked to hear Twilight say that. "T-Twilight, what's wrong with you?! We didn't lose yet."

Twilight looked at Rarity with sad eyes. "It's hopeless! Spike's anger is more powerful than my power of friendship. We lost this battle."

Rarity gave her friend a stern look. "Twilight! You never gave up before! Why now?"

"No... I DID give up before. There were times where I was giving up. You were never there to witness it. None you were. I did lose all hope before, but Spike..."

"Spike, what?"

"Spike, was the one who always motivated me. He was the one who always stopped me from giving up. He always reminded me to never give up, but where is he now?"

Rarity took a glance at Spike who was still fighting the others. "Twilight! You should learn from the past. If Spike was here right now he would tell you not to give up. What if he was never here in the first place? Would you have given up a long time ago? You can't always depend on Spike, Twilight. I'm not going to let Armak have Spikey for his own needs! Spike would want you to do anything to stop him from causing mass destruction. After all, he's been through, he deserves it." 

Twilight's eyes widened. "Y-Your right.." Twilight got up. "I owe everything to Spike. I need to save him, and I'm not going to give up. Because that's what Spike taught me!"

Rarity smiled but soon made an unsure look. "Are you sure we can save him?" 

"I don't know. But I've learned that we always find our answers..." She turned to Rarity. "With friendship."

Rarity smiled.

Spike was about to finish off the others, but he looked back and saw Twilight. "Did they get more of that stupid potion?" Spike charged at Twilight and Rarity.

Twilight teleported herself and Rarity away.

"Grrr, where did they go?!" 

Twilight appeared next to her friends, who were getting up from the last assault. "Are you all alright?"

"Heh, no sweat!" Rainbow Dash stated albeit weakly.

"Ah can take as many hits as possible if it means saving Spike."

Spike turned and saw all of them together. "Elements Of Harmony, always so persistent!"

Twilight had a serious look. "We'll never give up. We'll save Spike."

"What do you mean, 'save Spike'? I'm right here in front of you, perfectly fine." He said as he pointed to himself.

Twilight didn't bother. "Girls, we need to reach him somehow. Think of something. Anything!"

Spike approached them. "If you couldn't beat me with your full power, then how will you beat me now?" Spike activated his wings and rushed them. 

"Pinkie!" Twilight commanded.

Pinkie pulled out a new party cannon. She fired it, and this time, confetti came out. The confetti hit Spike's eyes and blinded him for a moment. 

Rainbow took this chance and flew in the air. When Spike removed the confetti from his eyes, Rainbow Dash came from above and tried to hold him down. 

Spike proved too strong for Rainbow and pushed her back. Rainbow then got a kick to the stomach. 

Applejack rushed Spike and bucked him, but it looked like it had no effect, Spike didn't even flinch! Spike took a hold of Applejack's tail and threw her away. 

Pinkie Pie was about to fire the cannon again when Spike punched through the cannon, destroying it. Spike threw the cannon at Pinkie, the impact was hard. 

Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack were all right next to each other, on the ground, struggling to get up. Spike fired towards them, and Twilight teleported in front of them. She made a barrier, protecting all of them. Rarity walked to her side. 

Spike kept on firing blasts, firing with both claws, laughing all the while. 

Twilight was using a lot of magic, she was sweating and breathing heavily.

Rarity noticed Twilight struggling. "Here, it may not be a lot, but I'll channel my magic with yours." Rarity said.

Twilight nodded. Rarity channeled her magic and they kept the barrier up a little longer. 

Spike growled. His eyes glowed emerald green and he blew his fire.

The magic barrier wasn't enough, and it shattered. The fire hit Twilight and her friends. When the smoke from the flames disappeared, they were all on the ground with burns. 

Spike slowly walked up to them. 

Fluttershy was coming up from behind and tried to grab Spike. 

Spike ducked. 

She flew over Spike and landed in front of Twilight.

"How nice of you to join us Fluttershy! Now the whole gang's here. I can end this in one shot!" Spike pointed a finger and started to charge a blast in front of the tip. He aimed at the Mane Six.

The six mares looked up at Spike with hopeless eyes. Were they done for? Has their fate been decided? 

"No!" Celestia stopped her attack on Armak and tried to fly and help Twilight.

Armak swooped in, in front of her. "Ah ah ah, your business is with me!"

"Goodbye..."

The mares' eyes widened.

"Forever!"

Twilight and the rest just shut their eyes tight. Waiting for their demise.

Suddenly, three young fillies came out of nowhere and blocked Spike from the Mane Six. They put their hoofs out.

"Stop Spike!" Apple Bloom shouted.

"Get out of the way!" Spike said.

"No! We won't let you hurt them!"  Scootaloo exclaimed.

"What do you think you're doing? I want my revenge!"

"Then I guess you'll have to blast us too!" Scootaloo said.

Spike grunted and slowly put his finger down.

Armak was frustrated. "Spike! Just end them!"

"No!"

"What?"

"They... were the only ones who were ever nice to me." Everypony noticed the change in Spike's voice.

"I don't care! I've seen you hurt fillies and colts before, what's different about now? They are in the way of your revenge!"

"I said I won't hurt them!" Spike yelled.

Armak growled and his horn glowed. His eyes glowed a dark mist, and he released a wave of magic through his horn.

Spike was starting to feel pain in his heart. He shut his eyes, and clenched his upper chest and started to yell in pain.

"S-Spike?" Sweetie Belle said.

Spike opened one eye to look at the CMC. "R-Run..." He barely said.

The CMC was stuck. They couldn't leave Twilight and the rest here, but they also couldn't stay here because something bad might happen.

"Spike, let us help you." Apple Bloom said.

Spike was still yelling in pain. "Leave!"

"I will not let your emotions get in my way!" Armak stated as another flash of darkness appeared from his horn.

Spike gave the CMC a demanding look. "NOW!"

The CMC flinched at that.

Suddenly, a burst of magic blinded the ponies around Spike, and the yelling stopped. When the ponies could open their eyes again, they saw black smoke surrounding Spike. Through the smoke, you could see two emerald eyes piercing through it.

When the smoke cleared, you could see that Spike was flashing. It was a dark flash, it looked evil. Spike's body glowed black. A dark aura surrounded him.

"S-Spike?" Scootaloo said.

An evil grin appeared on Spike's face. He started laughing. He pointed a finger at the CMC and Mane Six and fired a beam. The beam exploded on impact. 

To everypony's surprise, it missed and didn't hurt anypony.

"Spike? What happened? You completely missed! They weren't even moving!" Armak said, frustrated as ever.

Spike turned to Armak with a maniac look, pointed his finger, and fired at him. 

Armak swayed dodged the beam. He landed and yelled, "What do you think you're doing!"

Spike started to fire in all directions, explosions could be heard everywhere.

"Wha-What's happening? I don't get it!" Armak asked himself.

"You lost control of Spike," Celestia said as she descended a good distance from Armak. "Now he's going on a rampage! He's going to destroy all of Equestria! Maybe the entire world!"

"What?! If he does that, then there will be nothing left for me to rule!" Armak said.

"It's your fault! Look at what you did!" Celestia said with a glare.

The Mane Six and CMC took cover behind a rock. Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack were still weak.

Rubble flew by, nearly hitting the ponies. The earth below them shook from the blasts. 

"Spike..." Twilight watched as Spike was destroying their surroundings, laughing maniacally.

"We have to do something! If we don't, he'll probably be like this forever!" Rarity said as she held her stomach because of the earlier strikes.

"No! If any of you go out there in that condition..." Apple Bloom tried to state.

"Yeah, we know, but we have to try something!" Rainbow Dash said.

Sweetie Belle looked at everypony. She saw broken ponies, with no hope left. What could they do? They couldn't bring back Spike before, how could they do it now? Tears started to escape her eyes, as she looked at the drake she loved. She loved the kind drake who would do anything to make his friends happy. Now he's the opposite.

Sweetie Belle sobbed and ran up to Spike.

"Sweetie Belle, no!" Rarity yelled.

Spike noticed her and pointed a finger at her, ready to fire. "Hello there!"

Sweetie had tears running down her cheeks. "Why? Why Spike? You were never like this! The Spike I knew was kind, loyal, generous, and honest. He made me smile, and most of all, he was a very good friend!" Sweetie Belle didn't notice that she described Spike as all six elements of harmony. "Spike, please!"

Spike fired the beam from his finger, it hit Sweetie Belle and smoke appeared on impact.

Everypony gasped, including Armak.

When the smoke cleared, Sweetie Belle was standing there. Perfectly fine.

Spike had an annoyed look on his face and shot again. 

The beam had no effect on Sweetie Belle once again. She started to walk slowly towards Spike, tears running endlessly down her cheeks. 

Spike kept firing beams, and eventually changed to firing blasts from his palms.

"What's happening? She's not suffering!" Armak said.

As Sweetie was a hoof-step in front of Spike. She reached for him and pulled him in a tight hug. "Stop. Don't do this. Please." She wrapped her hoofs tighter around the dark drake. "I...I love you..." Sweetie Belle said silently with a sob.

Spike's Mind

Spike gasped, ignoring the pain he was receiving. "Sweetie Belle... Loves me?"

Dark Spike appeared yet again beside Spike. "Oh, who cares about her! What can she give you that we can't? We can give you power! Might! Freedom! We can give you the opportunity to get revenge on the ponies who betrayed you!"

Spike looked down, hiding his happy tears, from the darkness. "You're wrong..."

Dark Spike raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"There is something she can give me that you can't! Something that protected her from your attacks! Something that never in your lifespan will you be able to give me!"

"Oh? And whats that?" Dark Spike said with a smirk.

"Friendship." 

"Ha... Ha ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA HA!" Dark Spike laughed maniacally. "That's it? Friendship?!"

Spike merely nodded.

"Why would you need friendship when you have power? When you have servants?"

Spike smiled. "That's all I wanted in the first place. I never wanted power, control, or even rule. All I really wanted... was friendship."

Dark Spike frowned, but was soon shocked to see Spike glowing bright. "W-What?!"

"I won't let you hurt my friends, my family, or the ponies who I care about!"

Dark Spike gasped.

"And I especially won't let you hurt Sweetie Belle!"

In a blinding flash of light, Spike rose up to the air.

Dark Spike realized he was turning into particles, about to disppear. "H-Huh?"

"NOW GET OUT OF MY BODY!" Spike said as he raised his arms up.

The area around the two shined brightly.

Dark Spike screamed as he began to disappear. "NO! You can't do this to me! You need me!"

"I don't need you! What I need is you to go away!"

"NOOOOO! I'll be back! I SWEAR IT!"

3:20 - Wasteland

Spike's eyes widened, and his body started to glow a bright glow. Spike's body started to change, his darkened scales turning back to normal, the darkness in his eyes were removed, and the dark aura was gone.

"WHAT'S THIS!" Armak yelled.

Spike looked around.

"S-Spike?"

Spike turned to voice to look at Sweetie.

Sweetie Belle tightly hugged Spike when she saw the drake she loved. "Spike! You're back!"

"S-Sweetie Belle! I... can't... breathe..."

Sweetie Belle quickly jumped back, blushing. "OH! Sorry."

"I can NOT allow this. How many times have I done this?! Spike, you're mine!"

Spike turned around and shoved Sweetie Belle behind him. He growled. "Armak!"

Armak released his spell and it hit Spike. 

Everypony gasped.

"Ha, Spike's min- huh?"

Spike was not affected by the spell. "No! Not this time! Not ever!"

"What!?"

Spike used his magic. Cuffs and chains appeared on all four of Armak's hoofs. He gasped. 

"Don't try to use your magic either! All of your magic is blocked!" Spike looked around the area, seeing all the destruction he caused. He saw Ponyville not too far away, smoking. He saw Twilight and the rest, beaten up and hurt. And he saw the surrounding area, damaged and torn apart. 

He then had flashbacks of all the horrible things he did. All of the ponies he hurt, all of the destruction, terror, and chaos he caused. Tears fell down Spike's cheeks. He turned to look at Twilight and her friends. "I-I'm sorry everypony..." Spike then started to run to the Everfree Forest sobbing.

"No, Spike! Wait! We know it wasn't your fault!" Twilight tried to speak to Spike, but he was already gone deep into the Everfree Forest. And she was too tired to chase after him.
> Banished
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight watched as Spike ran deep into the forest. Tears began to form. "He's taking it on himself." Twilight angrily turned to the chained up Armak. "This is all your fault!" 

Armak smiled. "Ha! At least, someone's in pain."

"You used him!" Twilight charged her horn.

"No Twilight! That's never the appropriate answer." Celestia said.

"But Celestia, Armak-"

"I know, he has done many wrong things, but we will deal with him in another way."

"Okay..."

Armak scoffed.

4:00 - A lone tree in a grassland

A drake sat against a tree, looking down at his lap. Tears were flowing down his cheeks.

"I did so many terrible things. Twilight and the others hate me. They'll probably never want to see my face again. They'll never forgive me." Spike looked up and saw the grassy plains. "I don't deserve anything. I hurt them, all of them were suffering. I deserve to be Twilight's slave..." Spike started sobbing. "Why... Why can't I live a good life?"

Sweetie Belle was looking at Spike from another lone tree. "Oh, Spike... I have to cheer him up." She ran up to Spike.

"I can't believe what I did..." Spike felt a hoof wipe his tears. He looked up and saw Sweetie Belle. "S-Sweetie Belle? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were okay." Sweetie Belle sat beside Spike.

"Does... Rarity know that you're here... with me?"

"No."

"She would probably freak out. She wouldn't want you to talk to a monster." He said sadly.

"You're not a monster Spike. You're very kind."

"Rarity and the rest don't think that. I deserve to be looked down upon."

"W-Well, I don't look down on you. D-Did you hear what I said? Right before you changed back?" Sweetie Belle started to blush.

Spike pulled Sweetie Belle closer and embraced her in a tight hug. "Yes, I did."

"Do you... like me back?"

Spike responded by kissing Sweetie Belle on the cheek. "Would I disappoint my savior?"  Spike gave Sweetie Belle a warm smile.

She smiled back, but asked, "What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know. I'll probably journey off somewhere. I'm probably already banned from Equestria."

"Where are you going to go?"

Spike didn't respond.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, Sweetie Belle?"

"I'll stay with you."

"Heh, you can't stay with me. Rarity would be worried sick, and if she found you with me she'll probably think I foalnapped you. So... I can't."

"Then I'll explain it was my idea."

"I said no, and anyways, I'm not responsible."

"Yeah you are, you run the library."

"So?"

"So, that's a big responsibility."

"Yeah, if you think so."

"I'm coming with you, even if you say no. I can't leave you alone."

"Sweetie Belle, would you actually come with me... just because you don't want me to be lonely?"

Sweetie Belle nodded.

Spike began to make tears. "I've... never had this much love in so long."

Sweetie Belle hugged Spike, and he hugged back.

"I... love you too Sweetie. Thanks."

Sweetie Belle smiled to herself. "You're welcome."

"Are you two love birds done? I can't stand this icky stuff!" Some pony said off in the distance.

Spike looked past Sweetie Belle and saw Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "You brought them too?"

"Yeah, of course! They care about you too." Sweetie Belle explained.

"T-Thanks girls. It means a lot that you still care about me. Even after what I did to your sisters..." 

"Of course, we care about you! And you weren't really in control when... all the explosions happened." Apple Bloom smirked at Sweetie. "Ya know, Sweetie Belle wanted to save you from the start, because she wanted to make you her special somedragon." Apple Bloom said.

"Huh? Really?" Spike asked.

Sweetie Belle nodded with a blush.

"Well it worked, but I don't know if I can take you girls with me. After all, I don't even know where I'm going."

"Well it's not your choice, we're comin'." Apple Bloom said.

"Why would you come with a monster?"

"You're not a monster, you're a friend," Scootaloo stated.

"You all saw what I did. I destroyed everything."

"We know Spike, but that wasn't you. That was that Armok guy." Sweetie Belle said.

"It's Armak." Apple Bloom corrected.

"Yeah yeah, whatever."

"You girls really are the best," Spike said, as they all embraced each other in a big hug.


6:00 - Canterlot Castle - Throne Room

"Armak, tomorrow will be the last day you see Equestria. You will be contained in a cell until tomorrow's banishment." Celestia said.

"Why can't you just banish me now?" Armak remarked.

"We can't just banish you. It must be done in Equestrian court. It's the law, something you don't follow often."

The guards escorted Armak out of the throne room, and to his cell.

"I can't wait to see the look on his face when he gets banished." Twilight thought to herself.

"You all should get some rest. You all worked very hard today."

"B-But... Spike-" Twilight yawned which cut off her speech.

"You won't be doing any good for Spike if you fall asleep in the middle of nowhere. And I'm sure that Spike will be alright."

Twilight was about to protest again but was cut off by another yawn. She felt tired. So very tired. She never had a god sleep in a while actually.

Twilight was about to collapse in the middle of the throne room when Fluttershy caught her. 

"Goodnight Princess." She herself yawned and carried Twilight to their room.

The Mane Six's room had 6 beds. All of them went to go sit on their respective beds, and Fluttershy set down a tired Twilight on her own bed.

None of them wanted to break the silence. Spike was out there, somewhere, and he's taking it out on himself when Armak's the one to blame. 

"Spike thinks we hate him. He's taking it on himself for all the destruction he caused." Twilight said with droopy eyes.

Twilight was right. Armak made Spike do all those terrible things, and now he doesn't want to return, in fear of everypony.

"I'm going to find him, let him know that I understand that he was in Armak's control and that I want his forgiveness for how I treated him," Twilight said.

The others nodded.

"I don't know what will happen, but I hope we can work this out."

The Mane Six drifted to sleep, they were all very tired.

8:00 - A lone tree in a grassland

"It's a beautiful night tonight. You did a great job, Luna." 

"Yeah *Yawn* I guess so." Sweetie Belle said, tired.

"You look tired Sweetie, and you two as well," Spike said referring to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

The three fillies rested on Spike who was resting on the tree. They were tired. 

"Go to sleep, you need your rest."

"What about you?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Don't worry, I'll go to sleep just now. I was always a heavy sleeper you know."

"Okay then, goodnight." Apple Bloom said.

"Goodnight." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said simultaneously.

They all fell asleep resting on Spike. Apple Bloom resting on Spike's right shoulder, Scootaloo on Spike's lap, and Sweetie Belle on Spike's left shoulder. Spike gave Sweetie a kiss on the forehead, draped an arm around her body, and fell asleep thinking of what's going to happen him in the future.


DAY 5 - 12:00 PM - Canterlot Castle - Throne Room

Celestia stood on her throne.

Armak was standing in front of Celestia in chains. Guards were positioned all around him, securing him. The unicorn guards blocked Armak's magic, and the others pointed spears at him. 

Twilight and her friends were all standing to the right of Celestia. Luna, Shining, and Cadence were standing to the left.

"Let the trial begin." One pony said.

"Armak, for keeping a baby dragon hostage, threatening my little ponies, assault, and causing havoc across Equestria, you are hereby banished to Tartarus. Do you have any objections?" Celestia explained.

Armak started laughing. "Now I have all of you in one place."

"What are you trying to say?" 

"The two princess sisters, the princess of the Crystal Empire, and the six Elements Of Harmony holders." Armak pulled his two front hoofs apart and broke the chains.

Celestia gasped.

Armak chuckled. "I may not look like it, but I'm strong."

"Don't try anything. You have no magic." One guard stated.

"No magic huh?" Armak charged his horn and fired a blast at Celestia. She got knocked back to her throne. Everypony gasped. "Fools! Dark magic is very hard to block. I'm very surprised that Spike was able to do it very easily."

"One... Blast?" Twilight said, shocked.

Armak chuckled. "Destabilization Spell. Very useful, don't you think?" Armak laughed.

"He hurt the Princess, seize him!" One mare guard said.

Many guards rushed Armak, only to get pushed back by his magic.

Armak aimed at Twilight and fired. 

"No!" Luna jumped in Twilight's way and took the blast for her. She fell down being injured.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight said.

"How foolish," Armak stated.

"Cadence!" Twilight commanded.

Cadence nodded understanding. 

Twilight and Cadence both fired beams at Armak with their Alicorn magic.

Armak put a barrier up and protected himself. He then proceeded to fire at Cadence. She fell down in pain. "Now three Alicorns are down. What are you six going to do?"

Rainbow flew up and tried to attack from above. 

Armak flew up as well, meeting Rainbow in the air. 

Rainbow punched Armak in the face, but he didn't even flinch. "What?"

"Hmph, I thought I said that I'm strong before?" Armak slammed Rainbow to the floor with his hoofs. "I'm done playing with you all. Have fun in Crystal world!"

"Crystal world?" Twilight asked.

Armak used his magic and a big red crystal appeared in a flash of darkness. Armak then used his magic to start to trap the Mane Six, princesses, Shining Armor, and all the surrounding guards inside the gem. "I banish you all to the Crystal world!" One by one the ponies got sucked in. 

Twilight was the last still getting sucked in. "S-Stop! You can't do this!"

"Oh, but I can!" Armak walked up to Twilight who held on to the throne to keep herself from being sucked in by the gem.

Around them, the winds picked up, making their manes shake wildly.

"Goodbye, Princess."

Twilight gasped.

"I'll be taking care of Equestria from now on!"

Armak tapped Twilight, and suddenly her hoofs let go from Celestia's throne. "You won't get away with this! We'll stop you somehooooow...!" Twilight echoed as she was pulled into the crystal with a flash of darkness.

"Now, to get on with the final part of my plan." Armak went to the roof of the castle. "This seems like the highest spot in Equestria." Armak charged his horn and suddenly, the sky got dark. 

Ponies all around Equestria started to be transported to the gem that Armak possessed. They all got frightened when they turned into a flash of darkness and then disappeared.

"Now all of the ponies in Equestria will be trapped in the Crystal world, and Equestria will be all mine!" Armak laughed evilly.

12:30 - Grassland

Spike had a shield over himself and the three fillies. "Why did it get so dark? My body was telling me to protect myself."

"What's happening?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know, but do you feel that? It feels like magic in the air, I felt this magic before." After some time, Spike realized who's magic it was. "...I-It has to be Armak's dark magic!"

"What?" The three fillies said in shock.

"His magic consumed me before. I think I would know if it was his magic." He gritted his teeth. "But I don't get it! How can he use his magic? My spell should've been over by now, but I thought Celestia would've locked him up somewhere."

"What's Armak tryin' to do?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know, but if he's free to use his magic all around Equestria... then it means that he beat Twilight and the others."

"Oh no!"

12:40 - Canterlot Castle Roof

"Now, Equestria's all mine!" He said as the last pony was sucked up.

Armak started laughing evilly.
> Crystal World
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Armak's spell finally ended, and Spike put his barrier down. "That was definitely Armak's Dark Magic."

"But ah thought you blocked his magic? How is he using it?!" Apple Bloom asked.

"My spell should have been over my now, but Twilight and the others should've locked him up somewhere. Somewhere he couldn't use his magic against Equestria. What were they doing?!"

"I don't know, but now it looks like Armak's free." Sweetie Belle said nervously.

Spike thought for a second. He looked nervous for a second, but the nervousness turned into determination. 

He started to walk.

"Spike? Where are you going?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Spike stopped and turned around. "I'm going to Canterlot. I need to check if Armak defeated Twilight and the others."

"But... what if Armak didn't defeat them? What if Twilight sees you?"

Spike got that nervous look again. "I-I have to go. I couldn't live with myself if they got defeated, Armak took over Equestria, and I didn't do anything about it." He continued walking.

"Then I guess we have to go too!" Scootaloo said. "Come on crusaders!" 

The three fillies followed Spike, who didn't object them because he was too deep in thought.

1:00 -  Canterlot Castle Roof

"Yes! I won! There's nopony in Equestria left to stop me now!" Armak was enjoying himself when suddenly he felt something. "Wait, what's that? I feel it very far away, but it seems... wait, that's Spike's magic! How could this be?! He didn't get trapped in the Crystal World?!" Armak squinted his eyes. "Hmm, I need to look at this a bit closer." He went down to the throne room and with a flash of darkness a blue crystal appeared. Armak took a look at the crystal, and an image of Spike and the CMC walking appeared. "So it is Spike! It seems he somehow protected himself along with those three fillies. Where is he off to?" Armak looked in the direction where Spike was heading. "So he's coming here, but why? Anyhow, I must comfort myself in the new Equestria."

1:10 - On A Trail Headed To Ponyville

The CMC wasn't far behind Spike, but far enough for Spike not to hear what they were saying. They were walking towards Ponyville.

"Even though he's been through so much, he still cares about his friends... He still wants to help them even after what they did ta him." Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle smiled. "That's why I love him. He's always a good friend." She frowned. "But I feel sorry for him. He does so much for others, and this is what he deserves?" Sweetie Belle sadly said.

Spike and the three fillies soon arrived at Ponyville. It was quiet, there was no pony around.

"After all the fighting was over I was sure that all of the ponies would come back. Where are they?" Spike asked himself. 

"There's not one pony around." Sweetie Belle said.

Spike then saw how Ponyville was a mess. Buildings were destroyed, smoke coming from the active flames, random creatures from Fluttershy's cottage were running around.

He saw how the Library was still intact, but the other's homes were completely destroyed.

"H-How could I do all of this?" Spike started to form tears.

Sweetie Belle reached over and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Hey, don't you remember? That wasn't you. That was Armak! He caused all of this."

"I-I know... But just looking back at all the destruction I caused... nopony will ever forgive me."

Sweetie Belle didn't know what to say. 

"It's okay... let's just go to Canterlot. The sky's still dark, so Armak still hasn't been defeated yet."

Spike and the CMC continued off to Canterlot.

Unknown Time - Unknown Area

Every pony in Equestria was in a very large room. All around was red Crystal. The floor, the walls, the furniture, everything. All the ponies looked around confused. Where were they?

"W-Where are we?" Twilight asked.

Twilight's friends were all around her. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were all fine, even though they took hard hits back in Canterlot. It seems that they were healed when they were transported here.

"I don't know, but I have to admit, this is divine!" Rarity said.

"Don't be fooled. This is a prison that Armak put all of us in."

Twilight and her friends turned their heads to where the voice was coming from. They all saw Discord.

"Discord?! Where have you been?" Celestia asked.

"I've been here ever since Armak attacked Cloudsdale. It looks like he trapped all of Equestria in this dreaded Crystal world."

"What?" All of the ponies around said in shock.

"Yes. It is impossible to use magic here, and there is no way out of this room. We're trapped in here while Armak is free out there... He's raining chaos..."

"What was that Discord?" Celestia asked.

"I said that he's raining chaos! That's my job!"

"I've heard rumors about this world at the Crystal Empire, but I thought it was a myth so I didn't look much into it," Cadence said.

"B-But, if we're all trapped in here, then that means there's nopony left to stop Armak!" Twilight said.

All of the ponies put their heads down. They lost.

Suddenly, multiple red Crystals appeared floating in the air. They held random images of the outside world. 

"There they are! I was hoping when they would come back!"

"When what will come back?" Pinkie asked.

"These floating crystals. They disappeared after Spike blocked Armak's magic. We can use these to look at the outside world. Just touch it, and think of something, somewhere, or somepony, and it'll appear." Discord said. He soon had a very angry face. "I was trying to watch my television! But it cut off at the best part!"

Ignoring Discords agony, Celestia spoke. "Let's take a look at what Armak's doing," She said as she flew up and touched the Crystal with her hoof. She closed her eyes and thought of the Dark Magic wielder. Just then, all of the Crystals showed Armak sitting on the Canterlot Castle throne.

All the ponies in the room who saw the images in the red crystal gasped.

1:40 - Canterlot Castle - Throne Room

"Ahhhh, this is way better than that old throne back at the old castle. I could get used to this." Armak was relaxing on Celestia's throne. "I can't wait to thank Spike for helping me get into the Canterlot Castle, even though it wasn't his true intentions. Nevertheless, the princesses never expected such a thing." Armak started to laugh.

1:50 - Canterlot

"Okay, now I know something's up! We never attacked Canterlot, so why is there nopony here?" Spike asked himself.

Spike and the CMC checked all around. Some buildings, shops, and streets. There were nopony to be seen. They soon gave up and started to head to the Castle. 

Oddly, there were no guards at the castle. Now Spike was certain that Armak did something, and that he's still free. Spike and the three fillies sprint to the throne room.

As they approached the giant door to the throne, Spike said, "Alright! You three need to stay back, I don't want any of you getting hurt!"

They stopped at the giant door and the CMC all nodded.

Spike slammed the door open and they saw Armak sitting there. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo didn't enter, but peaked into the room from the doorway and watched as Spike faced Armak with gritted teeth.

Crystal World

All of the ponies were looking at the Crystals which showed the throne room.

"Spike?" Twilight was surprised.

Apple Jack and Rarity were surprised to see their sisters, and Rainbow was surprised to see Scootaloo. 

Meanwhile

"Oh! So the blank flanks don't get trapped here! But we do!" Diamond Tiara shouted, causing many Canterlot ponies to nod in agreement,

However, other foals from Ponyville didn't approve and gave her a glare.

"What?"

Pony World

"Ahhh, so nice to see you, Spike. How's it been?"

"What happened here? I thought Twilight and the others dealt with you!" Spike was angry.

"Oh, they tried, but they took their sweet time in doing so."

"Where are all the ponies? What have you done?!"

Armak chuckled. "They're all safe and sound."

Spike growled.

"I'll give you one more chance Spike. To get your revenge!"

Spike raised an eyebrow. "What...? What are you talking about?"

Armak made the big red Crystal appear. "This is the main gateway to the Crystal world, where I trapped every single pony in Equestria. If this Crystal gets destroyed then there's no way to get out. I know dragons like to eat gems like this one."

"W-What are you trying to say?"

"Eat this Crystal, and the ponies will never see Equestrian light again. They'll starve, and live their lives in that prison. You'll get your revenge along with a tasty snack!" Armak started to laugh.

Spike widened his eyes.
> The Final Stand
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Y-You want me to eat this gem?" Spike was lost for words.

"Yes! And when you do, Twilight and the others will be trapped in the Crystal World forever! You'll have your revenge at last!"

Spike looked down, hiding his furious looking face from Armak. "N-No..."

Armak gave a confused look. "What?"

"I said no!" Spike glared at Armak.

"Why? I thought you hated them, for how they have treated you."

"I think you misunderstood. I never wanted revenge! Even if they treated me wrong."

"Y-You aren't like other dragons. They are greedy and selfish, but you are the opposite."

"I would stop eating gems completely if it was necessary to save them."

Crystal World

Ponies gasped. 

"S-Spike... Even, after all, we did to you... you would still call us your friends?" Twilight started tearing up.

"Aw man! Spike may be talking big, but I don't think he has a chance against Armak." Rainbow bluntly said.

Most ponies nodded, agreeing.

"Oh, Spikey..." Rarity said, worried.

Pony World

"I guess I'll just destroy it myself then." Armak charged his horn.

Spike quickly used his magic to teleport the red crystal to him.

"Huh?" Armak said in confusion.

"I won't let you." Spike levitated the crystal and set it down next to the CMC, who was still peeking out from the doorway. 

Armak grunted. "Hmph, it doesn't matter. You can't get them out of that world anyways." He smirked. "Only I can."

Spike walked towards Armak and stood a few meters in front of him. "I will stop you! You hurt my friends... m-my family. I will not let this go any further!"

"Ha, did I just hear what the little, sensitive, weak dragon just said. He just said that he will 'defeat' me. Don't make me laugh! I'm the one who holds all of the dark magic." Armak said laughing while showing off his powers with a dark shine from his horn. "Fine, I'll play with you for a little bit. Do keep in mind that I took down four Alicorns, and the bearers of the elements at the same time."

Spike ignored the statement and kept glaring at Armak.

"Fool! You don't have your power of hatred anymore, how do you intend to beat me?"

Spike fired a beam at Armak with his finger. 

Armak flew up from the throne, avoiding the attack. Spike's beam destroyed Celestia's throne. "While I'm surprised that you can still use magic, I just have top say that Princess Celestia's not going to be happy about that Spike!"

Crystal World

"I don't care, Spike, do whatever it takes!" Celestia said even though she knew that Spike couldn't hear her.

Pony World

Armak flew down to Spike and attempted a punch with a magic encased hoof.

Spike caught his hoof with his claw.

Armak used his free hoof and attempted another punch.

Spike caught it with his free claw once again, their hoofs and claws were interlocked. 

"You're not bad Spike," Armak said as he pulled back. "But how about this." Armak fired a blast from his horn.

Spike teleported away from the blast but it went to the doorway where the CMC were hiding and it exploded. Luckily, it didn't harm them. 

"I have to take the fight away from here. I'm putting Sweetie and the others in danger, and the castle could come apart." Spike thought to himself after he appeared again. He rushed Armak and faked a punch. Spike disappeared with teleportation and appeared again behind Armak. Spike grabbed Armak's tail and spun him around.

"Woooahhhooohh!" Armak screamed as Spike threw him to the window, breaking the glass.

Spike then activated his wings and flew after Armak.

"Let's follow them." Sweetie Belle said.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded and proceeded to run after Spike and Armak.

Armak was thrown far. When he regained his balance he was in a wasteland not far from Ponyville. 

Spike soon caught up with him.

"This is a very nice battleground! Thanks, Spike!"

Spike replied by trying to blast him.

Armak dodged and laughed. "Ha! Is that all you got-"

He was cut off by Spike coming in and kneeing him in the chest.

Armak growled and held his stomach in pain.

Spike proceeded to fly above Armak and elbowed him from above.

Armak was sent flying down. The impact on the surface made a crater. He jumped out of the crater and charged his horn starting to fire rapidly at Spike.

Spike flew fast and dodged the blasts. He circled around Armak, it was then when the firing came to a halt. 

Armak flew up to Spike and tried to deliver many punches. 

Spike dodged all of them and then began to deliver his own punches. Armak this time, was the one to dodge all. "You're fast." Spike complimented.

"Yeah, you are too," Armak replied.

Crystal World

Ponies were shocked.

"Did any of you follow any of that?" Applejack asked.

The rest shook their heads saying no.

"Did you follow any of that princess?" Twilight asked.

Celestia shook her head. "No. Too fast for my eyes."

"And they aren't even the slightest tired." Rarity explained.

Pony World

Spike started to fire blasts from his palm rapidly. Rotating from his left claw to his right.

Armak quickly put up a barrier and protected himself. 

The CMC finally caught up. They were hiding behind some trees.

"Spike..." Sweetie Belle thought, as her love was fighting for Equestria.

Spike gave up on firing and charged at Armak. He attempted multiple punches at him. 

Armak dodged all but one, and he was sent flying to the ground. 

Armak barely stopped himself from hitting the ground. He flew up and knocked Spike down with his hoofs.

Spike hit the ground hard. He caused a crater. Spike wasn't all that damaged, though.

Crystal world

"Spike!" Twilight was worried for her young dragon friend.

"It's alright, he looks fine," Rainbow said.

Pony World

Spike got up and flew back up to Armak.

"I really despise your scales," Armak said.

"Heh, comes in handy when you're always being pushed around."

Armak smiled and he had an idea. "Ha! Catch me if you can!"

"Do you think this is a game-" Spike tried to ask but Armak was already long gone across the wastelands.

Crystal World

"Oh no, he's too far. Even I couldn't catch up to that. That coward!" Rainbow said.

Pony World

"Heh, it's a good thing Rainbow isn't here. Her pride means a lot to her." Spike's body started to glow light green, and in a flash of green light, he was gone, after Armak. 

Spike was very fast. He was faster than any pony has ever seen. All you could see was a green and purple blur, as Spike rushed after Armak.

Crystal World

Rainbow's jaw dropped. She looked to her friends who was chuckling and immediately put on a straight face. "Eh, I'm WAYYYYYY faster than that."

"Whatever you say Rainbow!" Pinkie Pie said laughing.

Pony World

Spike soon caught up to Armak. "Hey!"

"You- What?" Armak was shocked.

"I guess you lost then? Because I caught you!" Spike said as he punched Armak in the face.

Armak was annoyed. "Why you little-!" Armak kept attempting punches and kicks, but Spike dodged all of them. He growled and fired a blast at Spike.

Spike caught the blast with his claw and squeezed it. The blast popped like a balloon. 

"You're toying with me!" Armak grunted.

"You're the one who started this game," Spike remarked.

Armak charged Spike once again.

Spike flew around him and quickly kicked him back to the wastelands from before.

The CMC watched as Armak flew into a rocky hill, destroying it.

Armak flew out of the rubble and landed in front of Spike, who was waiting for him. Armak charged his horn and cloaked himself. He was invisible to Spike and the others.

Crystal World

"Where did Armak go?" Rarity asked.

"It looks like he used a spell to make himself invisible. This could be trouble." Twilight explained.

"Spike's just standing there. Doesn't he know that he's invisible?"

"Spike..." Twilight thought.


Pony World

Spike stood there, waiting for Armak's next move. It was quiet, Armak could be anywhere.

"Where did he go?" Scootaloo asked.

"Ah don't see him." Apple Bloom said, looking around.

"Maybe he's a ghost." Sweetie guessed, a little spooked.

A tap on Sweetie's shoulder caused her to jump and scream. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom instantly rushed over and covered her mouth before she caused Armak or Spike to see them.

"Why would you do that?!" Sweetie asked once her friends let her go. 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gave each other confused glances. "Do what?"

Unknown to all of them, a dark alicorn chuckled to himself.

Spike still stood completely still. When suddenly,

"Got you!" Spike raised his claw and Armak ran head first into it. His cloak was gone. "What a useless spell." Spike grabbed Armak by the neck and lifted him up. Armak tried to push Spike's claws away from his neck, but Spike had a tight grip. Spike grinned as he charged a blast in his palm, and fired at Armak.

Armak charged his horn and fired his own blast at Spike at the same time. They both flew back.

"That was pretty good," Spike said when he stopped himself from flying backward.

"How could this be? Spike lost his power of hatred, he should not be able to keep up with me." Armak thought to himself. "This will be a closer fight than I thought."

Spike and Armak rushed each other. When they got near they tried to hit each other with punches and kicks. 

They were both fast and took turns dodging and attacking. They were rising in the air as they were fighting.

The CMC were watching from the batch of trees. 

"Do you think Spike's gonna win?" Apple Bloom asked.

"From here it looks like Spike and Armak are equal." Scootaloo pointed out.

"Spike..." Sweetie thought of her new drakefriend. She was worried about him.

Spike and Armak pulled back. Their barrage was over.

Neither of them looked tired.

Armak was the one who rushed Spike and attacked him with multiple punches.

Spike was flying back and bobbed his head left and right to dodge Armak's attacks.

Armak stopped his attack, and thought. "How come I can't hit him?!"

Spike used his tail to grab Armak by the neck. He squeezed tightly and Armak couldn't yell in pain because of it. He charged two blasts in his palms and aimed it at Armak's chest.

"What were you grumbling about over there?"

Armak looked at Spike. "You shouldn't be this fast and powerful! I should have beaten you easily!" He struggled to say.

"I was always this powerful, remember?"

"Yes you are, but you should have lost your power when I lost control of you. Lost your power of hatred."

"I believe, you're mistaken." Spike fired and Armak flew back. Once he recovered and he could hear his opponent again Spike started to speak again. "You only gained control of me. The power you thought you gave me was my own power, I did not gain it through hatred."

"What? You had this power the whole time?! But why? Why didn't you use it to escape from me?" Armak asked.

"At the time, I didn't use my fire magic for reasons like that. I just used it for sending letters to the princess. If you want to talk about my strength, how do you suppose I survived all of the abuse from the past?"

"So by controlling you... I forced you to use your power for different reasons. Then you came accustomed to it." He realized. "I should have never done that."

"I always thought I could use this power for different reasons, but I never wanted to use it for hurting my friends." 

"That's why you're so powerful..."

"Just give up Armak, you know I can beat you. There's no point in fighting anymore. Just release my friends and we can call this a truce."

"Fool! I may be surprised that you still have this much power, but I can still win. I've only been using eighty percent of my power."

"Really? Well, I'm using the same amount of power as I was when I was fighting Twilight before. It was twenty percent, wasn't it?"

Armak growled.

Armak and Spike both landed to the ground.

"Fine then! If you won't stop, then I will beat you! For all of the ponies, for all my friends, for my family, for my love, Sweetie Belle, and for my sister, Twilight!"

Crystal World

Twilight began to shed tears. "Spike still thinks of me as a sister? Even, after all, the things I've done to him?"

"That's the dragon I saw beside Twilight," Trixie stated.

"That's the Spike we know." Mrs. Cake said.

Other ponies from Ponyville nodded.

"This is the dragon Rainbow talked about." Lightning Dust said.

"Affirmative," Spitfire replied.

The Crystal Ponies started to chant their hero's name, the rest of Equestria's ponies followed.

"You can do it, Spike," Applejack said.

"Beat that guy to a pulp!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Be careful," Fluttershy said

"GOOOOOOOO SPIKE!" Pinkie Pie cheered.

"Do it for us," Rarity said.

"And all of Equestria!" Twilight finally added.

Pony World

The CMC were out of their hiding spot, looking at Spike.

"Go Spike!" Apple Bloom yelled out.

"Do it!" Scootaloo said.

Sweetie Belle smiled. "That's my Spike... always caring about his friends no matter what. Even if they did the worst possible thing to him, he would still care and love them. Your so sweet, that's why I love you so much, Spike." Sweetie Belle thought to herself.

"Let's finish this Armak!" Spike said.

"Yes, and I will win!" Armak said.
> The Final Battle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fight Theme:







Spike and Armak shot a blast at each other. The two magic attacks collided and made a wave of force.

Soon after, Spike and Armak flew over to each other and started their assault.

Spike tried two punches and a magic blast, but Armak dodged. Armak attempted a buck, but Spike blocked.

They continued on like this, delivering and receiving attacks. Neither one landed a direct hit.

"How do you like eighty percent?" Armak asked smiling.

"I'm still getting used to this magic thing. But eh, could be better." Spike shrugged.

Spike and Armak both flew back, stopping their barrage.

"Here Spike!" Scootaloo said as she tossed her scooter towards Spike.

"Huh?" Spike caught the scooter. "Good idea Scoots!"

Spike proceeded to jump on the scooter and used his wings to ride fast like Scootaloo does.

"Um...? Scootaloo? Where did you get that scooter from?" Apple Bloom asked.

Scootaloo shrugged.

Apple Bloom tilted her head in confusion.

Spike rode fast on the scooter, heading towards Armak with great speed.

Armak squinted his eyes. "Huh...? What's Spike on...?" Armak inspected some more and he soon widened his eyes, noticing Spike coming closer to him. "Uh-Oh."

Spike approached Armak, he flew up and used the scooter to hit Armak.

Armak screamed in pain. "You never said anything about weapons!"

"You still think this is a game? I'm trying to save Equestria!" Spike repeatedly kicked and hit Armak while in the air.

Armak grunted and blew Spike back with his magic, destroying the scooter in the process. "No more games! I will go full-out, and I WILL destroy you!" He shot a blast at Spike. It hit dead on his stomach which blasted him away.

Spike got blasted into Ponyville. He hit the ground hard and shaved the dirt. Miraculously, he didn't get injured badly.

When he stood up, he saw that he was in what was left of Sugarcube Corner. Some of the walls were destroyed, the furniture was ruined, and the food was all spilled.

A tear escaped his eye when he remembered what happened to the place. "I-I'm sorry Pinkie..." 

Crystal World

"Spike..." Pinkie Pie didn't know what to say. Even though she forgot to invite him to her super-duper fun parties, he still cared about her.

Pony world

Spike noticed some spilled ingredients on the floor. He got an idea and used his magic to teleport some apples from the apple farm to him.

Crystal World

"Hey, those are our apples!" Granny Smith stated.

"Why's he using our apples?" Applejack said.


Pony World

Armak flew in front of the sugary building. "Spike, I know you're in there! Stop hiding and fight!"

In the bakery, Spike used his magic to use the leftover ingredients and apples to make some pies. The way he made them was in a conveyor belt type of way. The pie plates he grabbed moved across the room picking up the required ingredients. Once it reached him, he would bake the pies with his fire breath. It was faster and the oven was destroyed. 

When several pies were made, Spike flew out Sugarcube Corner, bringing the pies with him using his magic, and met contact with Armak, who was standing in front of the entrance to the building.

"Here, eat this Armak!" Spike said as he threw the pies at Armak.

"What the-" Surprised, Armak didn't react fast enough and got hit by the pies. He was covered with the dessert. The whipped cream blinded his sight.

Spike charged a big magic blast in the air and shot it directly to Armak who couldn't dodge because he was blinded by the pies he was covered in. When the blast hit, it exploded on impact and Armak was sent tumbling backward. That had to hurt.

After Armak got up from the recent attack, he dissolved most of the pie on his body with his magic but some were still left on his cheeks. 

He licked the pie off his face. "I have to admit Spike, you are an excellent cook, too bad your skills will be worth nothing once I obliterate you!" Armak teleported in front of Spike and knocked him away with his hoof. Spike was sent flying back.

He landed in a place very familiar to him, it was none other than the Carousel Boutique. 

Spike sobbed and got up from his crash. He used his magic to bring some materials towards one of Rarity's mannequins. He started to design a dress with a teal blue skirt and an ice white collar. Spike then brought many gems towards the outfit. He covered the skirt completely with shiny ocean blue gems. Lastly, he put a specific, heart-shaped, fire ruby right below the collar. His dress was done.

"You learn from the best," Spike said to himself.

Outside

"Why is he hiding in there? He knows that I'm here." Armak started to charge his horn.

Crystal World

"Spikey..." Rarity was tearing up.

Many celebrities and ponies from Canterlot looked at the dress with astonishment. They were surprised to see a dragon making something so 'unique... fabulous... magnificent!' Most ponies were complimenting the dress, others were jealous.

Pony World

Spike flew out of  Carousel Boutique, holding the dress with his magic. He met up with Armak once again. 

He formed a bright green energy ball in his palm. The threw it upwards hitting the dress, but instead of being destroyed, the dress glowed the same green light.

The glow blinded Armak which stopped him from charging his horn, and Spike once again rushed him and attacked, sending a punch and magic blasts at Armak.

Armak waited for the right time, and when Spike stopped attacking he held him with his magic and threw him away.

Spike was tossed to Fluttershy's cottage. He landed in front of the doorstep. 

Spike could hear Armak charging up an attack but suddenly the noise stopped. Spike looked up and saw all of his friend's pets trying to hold Armak back.

Gummy was attempting to bite Armak's head, of course, this proofed ineffective as he had no teeth. Opalescence was scratching his right front hoof. Tank was flying into Armak's head. Winona was holding his back hoofs, Angel was kicking his left hoof, and Owlowiscious was pecking his head.

"Guys..." Spike looked at his animal friends. "Y-You came... even after I traumatized you all?" 

Crystal World 

Twilight and the others all shouted their pet's names in shock.

Pony World

Armak blew the animals back with his magic, chuckling evilly. He then proceeded to fire at Owlowiscious who was flying in the air. The owl got hit and landed to the ground badly injured.

"No!" Spike teleported to the Owl and picked him up. He waved his claw over him. Green magic mist escaped Spike's claw and it healed the owl. 

Owlowiscious opened his eyes slowly and looked up at Spike. He wrapped his wings around him, embracing him in a hug.

"Aww, don't worry about it. Now leave. All of you. I don't want you getting hurt."

Owlowiscious and the other pets went to take cover inside Fluttershy's Cottage.

Spike turned to Armak with a serious face and charged at him. He charged a blast in his palm and threw it at Armak.

Armak put up a barrier and blocked the attack. The blast made a smokescreen. "What a foolish attempt," Armak said, smiling.

Spike teleported behind Armak and knocked him back with his claw. Armak was sent flying through buildings.

When Armak recovered from the collision. He began to fire beams at Spike.

Spike flew fast and dodged the beams. He then approached Rainbow Dash's cloud, which didn't look anything like a home anymore.

"Ohhh, I'm so sorry Rainbow," Spike said shutting his eyes tight.

Spike had an idea, he flew around the cloud fast as Rainbow would, he transformed the cloud into a tall skyscraper. With a flick of his finger, he tilted the building and it was falling in Armak's direction.

Armak looked up and started screaming as the tall cloud fell on top of him.

As Armak was occupied, Spike flew away as Armak would continue firing beams when he got back up. 

Spike landed, and in front of him was the Golden Oaks Library, his home.

Spike walked inside and tears started flowing down his cheeks when he saw the big mess. Books were everywhere, and the kitchen was a big mess. "I'm sorry Twilight." Spike sobbed. "I wasn't here for you when you needed me."

Crystal World

"Oh, Spike... I've put you through so much, and you still want to..." Twilight couldn't finish her sentence as she started to cry. Fluttershy helped her stay up. "I-I'm sorry Spike..."

Pony World

Spike used his magic and started to put the books back on the shelves, in order of course. It was a lot easier to do with magic. This took no more than twenty seconds, and once he was done, he went to the kitchen and started to wash the dishes. Again, it was easier, and faster with magic.

Spike noticed something across the library when he was done. There was something on the ground near the fireplace. Spike walked up to it and picked up the object.

It was a picture of Twilight and her friends.



Spike gripped the picture harder. "I'm doing this for all of you..." Spike put the picture back on top of the fireplace and teleported out the library. He met with Armak once again.

"Alright, Armak! This is it!"

"Yes! ...but one question?"

"I'm listening." 

"I want to ask why? ...Why do you fight for them? After all they have done to you? You still care about them?" Armak looked at Spike straight in his emerald eyes. "I just don't get it. I've seen most of your memories Spike. I know what you've been through."

Spike stared back at Armak's black eyes. "Even if they don't care... Even if they don't appreciate... Even if they don't even love me! I'll still fight for them! It doesn't matter what happens to me. All that matters to me is my friends, and I won't give up until they're saved!"

Crystal World

"Oh Spike, we do! We do care and love you!" Twilight sobbed.

Pony World

Spike and Armak flew over to the wastelands and charged up. They were producing aura, Spike had green aura, and Armak had black.

They charged at each other. They were both attacking. Their claws and hoofs were colliding. With each collision, you could feel the energy in the air. It was a powerful force.

"This is for Fluttershy, the kindest pony I know!" Spike yelled as he punched Armak across the cheek, sending him flying. 

Crystal World

"Spike..."

Pony World

Spike teleported to where Armak was flying towards. "This is for Pinkie Pie, the pony who always makes me smile!" Spike knocked Armak towards the ground with a kick.

Crystal World

Pinkie Pie gasped. "I do?!"

Pony World

Spike teleported again to Armak's path. "This is for Rainbow Dash, the most loyal pony I've ever known!" Spike kicked Armak into the air once again.

Crystal World

"I'm not very loyal. Not to you Spike." Rainbow said to herself.

Pony World

Armak stopped himself and looked around, he couldn't see Spike anywhere.

All Armak heard was, "This is for Applejack, the most honest pony out there!" Before he got knocked down to the ground again with a blast to the back.

Crystal World

"Sure ah was honest, but not always..." Applejack said.

Pony World

Spike charged a blast in his palm. "This is for Rarity, the most generous pony I know!" Spike said as he threw the blast towards Armak. The blast made a direct hit.

Crystal World

"Oh Spikey, you've been more generous to me than I've ever been to you..." Rarity mumbled.

Pony World

Spike charged another blast in his palm and rushed Armak. "And this one's for Twilight, my sister!" Spike screamed as he put his claw to Armak's chest and fired.

Armak got sent flying back. "Okay, enough!" He charged his horn, and Spike started to inhale.

Armak then fired a big beam, and Spike replied by blowing his fire breath.

The dark magic beam and the dragon's fire collided. Armak proved strong but Spike did not let up. 

"This is the end!" Armak said as he released some more magic.

Spike made one big inhale and blew some more fire to add to the flame. Armak's magic was losing.

"I won't let you!" Armak pushed Spike's fire back, they were even again.

Crystal World

"Hey, that's the same flame that saved us from that huge ice block at the Equestria Games!" One Crystal pony mentioned.

"Yeah! It is!" Another said.

The Crystal Ponies started chanting their hero's name once again, the other ponies followed.

Cadence Smiled.

"Spike, everypony is watching, they all love and care for you. You are fighting for what you love, and you will not stop until you win. That is what makes you special." Celestia said.

"Indeed." Luna agreed.

The Mane Six smiled.

"Go, Spike," Fluttershy whispered.

"You can do it!" Rarity said.

"We know you can!" Applejack said.

"Win this!" Rainbow Dash said.

"For us!" Pinkie Pie said.

"And all of Equestria!" Twilight finished.

Pony World

"GOOOO SPIKE!" The CMC said together.

Spike inhaled one last time, and blew his fire, pushing back Armak's beam. The fire then proceeded to make its way to Armak.

Armak grunted. "No! This can't happen to me! I hold all the Dark Magic! No being should be able to surpass me!" He looked at the fire heading towards him. "I hate irony! The monster I created came back to bite me."

"NOOOOOO!" Armak yelled as he got hit with the mass of fire.
> Friendship Is Magic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unknown Time - Pony World

Darkness and clouds filled the sky. Flashes of lightning brightened the sky for a mere second before disappearing. The ground around them was being destroyed from the past intense power.

In a wasteland not far from Ponyville, laid an injured alicorn. The pony had burn marks all over him, cuts, scratches, he was in major pain.

"This land won't be looking anything like Equestria in a few hours." A floating drake with wings said looking around. The drake landed next to the injured pony. He raised his claw and charged up a magic blast in his palm.

The pony looked up weakly. His blurry vision refocused, and he saw the attack to end his life. "D-Do it Spike... I've lost."

Spike put slowly put his claw down, stopping his attack. 

Armak was confused. "W-What are you doing?" He said weakly. "Aren't you going to finish me?" He got up slowly.

Spike put out his claw, gesturing for a claw/hoofshake.

"I don't get it." 

"You're just like Discord," Spike said with a smile.

"Wha-What? What do I have in common with Discord?"


Crystal World

"Spike? What are you on about?" Discord asked himself.


Pony World

"Well? Are you going to answer me?"

"You need a friend."

"What do you mean, 'I need a friend'?"

"Discord was evil, just like you, but when he learned about the power of friendship, it changed him. He changed, and I believe you can change as well."

"S-So, what you're saying is, you want to be my friend?"

Spike nodded. "From the time you kept me locked up in that old castle back at the Everfree Forest, I noticed that you've been very lonely."

"I had friends before. Long ago, when I was still a unicorn colt. ...But that was the past! They have passed away a long time ago. This is nonsense, I've done many things to you. I made you turn against your friends, I hurt your friends, I hurt you. Why would you want me to be your friend?"

"I can always forgive, Armak. I can always give you a second chance. We gave Discord another chance, it's only fair that you get another chance."

"B-But, I don't get it. How can you forgive me? Even after all I've done?"

"It's because it's just how Spike is." Sweetie Belle said approaching with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. "Spike is always forgiving. He's also the kindest dragon in all of Equestria."

Spike started to blush.

"It's just who he is. You just can't explain it." Scootaloo said.

"And that's the way we like him." Apple Bloom said putting a hoof on Spike's shoulder, just for Sweetie Belle to slap it off.

"Aww, I'm not that perfect," Spike said scratching the back of his head.

Just then, the ponies and dragon heard some rustling behind them. They all turned and saw Zecora with a saddlebag.

"Zecora!" Apple Bloom jumped in excitement. 

"Just in time Zecora!" Spike said happily. "Did you bring the potion?"

"It took a while to finish the brew. This is the potion, just for you." Zecora said, proceeding to take the potion out of her saddle bag, and then giving it to Spike.

"Thanks." Spike turned to Armak and offered him the potion.

"Not that I'm mad but, how come you didn't get trapped in the Crystal World."

"The spell you produced, caught ponies by the breeze. But I am a Zebra, as you can see." Zecora explained.

"And that's... the same healing potion from before. But why give it to me?"

"Well you're hurt, so it would be best if you would take it," Spike said.

"I can't believe I made such a fine dragon into a monster. I-I'm sorry." Armak said as he took the potion with his magic and drank it.

"It's alright, I forgive you." Spike put out his claw gesturing once again, to have a shake.

"We do too!" Sweetie Belle said for herself and her friends.

Armak looked at Spike's claw and slowly put out his hoof to shake claw and hoof.

Suddenly, the sky cleared up, it was now bright as Celestia's sun shone all of Equestria.

"Looking at Celestia's sun it looks like it's about four o'clock," Armak said.

"Wow, you could tell the time just by looking at the sun?" Spike said in amazement. "Heh, I'm cooped up in the library all day so I really can't realize these things."

"Well, maybe you should get out more," Armak said smiling. 

Spike shrugged. "I don't really want to disappoint Twilight."

"Hey, maybe we should free all the ponies from the Crystal World now," Armak suggested.

"Nah, let them stay in there for another hour or so." Spike smiled.

Armak looked at Spike confused, but then smiled when he noticed that Spike was joking. He never heard a proper joke for a long time, he still had to get used to it, since he would be trying to make some more friends.

Spike, Armak, Zecora, and the CMC all laughed together.

"Let's go. Hey Zecora, do you need a lift?" Spike asked.

"No, I will be alright. I bid you a good flight."

They waved at Zecora and flew off. Spike and Armak used their magic to carry the fillies, they were heading back to Canterlot.


Crystal World

Ponies were cheering. Everything was going to turn out good after all.

"You did it, Spike! You're everypony's hero!" Twilight said.


Pony World

Spike and Armak were flying in the blue sky. Spike could feel the breeze hit his face, it felt great.

"Um, Spike?" 

"Uh, yeah Sweetie Belle?" 

"Can we talk? Like, in private."

"Um, yeah sure. Armak! Could you take Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to the castle? Me and Sweetie Belle need to talk."

"You're really trusting me... Very well." Armak told hold of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo with his magic and flew off.


Crystal World

Twilight flew up and touched the floating Crystal. She closed her eyes and the images of the outside world vanished.

"What'd ya do that for Twilight?" Applejack asked.

"We don't need to spy on Spike and Sweetie Belle, we need to respect their privacy."


Pony World

Spike and Sweetie Belle landed by a tree. They both sat against it.

"So uh? What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh... It's just, after all that's happened, we never got the time to really talk... About our relationship." Sweetie Belle explained.

"Oh, yeah. It's really great to know that somepony actually likes me. I was scared that no pony would want to be with a dragon." 

"Really?"

"Yeah... Well, how long have you liked me for?" 

"I really can't remember."

"Wow, you must have been liking me for a long time since you can't remember."

"Yeah."

"Um? Sweetie Belle?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't know how to say this but, I don't know if I can be your drakefriend," Spike said sadly.

"What? Why not? Do you not like me?" Sweetie Belle was on the verge of tears.

"No! I'm not saying that! I really like you, Sweetie Belle, it's just that I think the others won't really approve of me being with you. I did hurt them all, and destroyed most of Equestria."

"But they don't need to know that we're together. I said that I will follow you wherever you go."

"You can't Sweetie Belle, you're better off staying in Ponyville with your sister."

"I thought I already said that there's no way you could stop me from following you?"

Spike looked down. "You could always visit me... Without letting your sister find out."

"Yeah I guess so, but what if you're too far."

"I won't be far. I've already found a spot where I could live." Spike pointed to a mountain. "That's a volcano, it's not too far from Ponyville, and it's the perfect place for me, a dragon, to live. You could visit me without Rarity knowing."

"Yeah! And I could bring Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo too!" Sweetie Belle said smiling.

"So does that mean that-" Spike was cut off by Sweetie Belle embracing him in a tight hug. 

"Yup, we're still dating! ...Wow, you're so warm!"

"Well, I am cold blooded."

"But if you're cold blooded, then that should mean that you should be cold." Sweetie Belle said confused.

"Don't worry, you'll learn about it when you get older." Spike chuckled.

Sweetie Belle gave Spike a kiss on the cheek. Spike returned the kiss. They both started to blush, grinning at each other.

"Let's get going, we need to head back to Canterlot Castle." Spike picked up Sweetie Belle with his magic and flew off to Canterlot, where Armak and the other two fillies were waiting.


When Spike arrived at the throne room in the Canterlot Castle, Armak, and the CMC were waiting with the main gateway crystal.

"Follow me," Armak said as he lead them to the highest spot on the castle. "This is the highest point on the castle, I should easily be able to release all the ponies from here."

Spike nodded. "Alright then."

Armak charged his horn and the crystal lit up. Lights started to come out of the crystal and they traveled to very specific spots in Equestria. One by one the lights turned back into ponies. Discord and the Wonderbolts appeared back at Cloudsdale, Trixie returned back at Ponyville, and Twilight and the others returned back to the throne room.

"It looks like it's working," Spike said.

"Yes, the ponies will be returned to the same spot there were when they first got transported to the Crystal World," Armak said.

Soon, the lights stopped coming out the crystal. 

"Well looks like that's all of them," Armak said.

"Thank you Armak."

"No, thank you, Spike. You taught me somewhat of the power of friendship. I now remember what I had long ago."

"Your welcome. Anyways, I'm out of here, Twilight and the others will be coming soon, and I don't think they'll be happy to see me." 

Spike turned around and was about to fly off when Sweetie Belle came from behind and pulled him into a hug. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed.

"I'll miss you." Sweetie Belle said.

"I'll miss you too. All of you. But don't worry, you'll visit me from time to time."

"Yeah, I guess so. I just wish everything could be back to the way it was."

"Yeah me too. But now Twilight and the others most likely hate me for what I've done."

"I'm sorry Spike, this is my fault," Armak said looking down.

"Hey, don't sweat it."

"You don't have to leave, they can forgive you like you forgave me."

"No, our sisters, aren't really good at something like that." Sweetie Belle said.

Armak looked down.

Spike walked up to Armak and put his claw on his shoulder. "Promise me, no, Pinkie Promise me that you'll be good from now on."

"Pinkie...? Promise? ...Ohhh I saw that in your memories. 'Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye'." Armak said while trying to do the gesture, but failing miserably. 

Spike chuckled. "Close enough." He waved at the CMC and Armak and took off to his new home.

When Spike was halfway to the volcano he stopped and raised his arms. Spike used a reverse spell to repair all the damage that was done by him and Armak. After all the damage was repaired Spike proceeded to fly off. 

"That was Spike's magic just now. He repaired all the destruction we caused. And he did it without using a lot of magic by using a one spell rather than individually fixing everything." Armak explained.

"Thank's Spike." Sweetie Belle said. "You're the best."
> Forgivness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"He's already gone?!"

"Yup, long gone." Sweetie Belle said with a frown.

Armak and the CMC went down to the throne room where Twilight and the others were transported. Celestia called off the guards, and now it was only the CMC, Mane Six, Armak, Shining Armor, and princesses in the throne room.

"Where is he?" Twilight asked.

"Why should I tell you? Just so you can treat him wrong again? For you to banish him for destroying more than half of Equestria! It wasn't his fault!"

"Sweetie Belle, it's not like that, we just need to-"

"No! I don't want to hear any more of your lies!"


While the others were talking, Armak approached Celestia and bowed. "You may... banish me to Tartarus now. I surrender."

Celestia started to chuckle. "Oh Armak, there's no need for that now."

"What do you mean?"

"We saw everything in the Crystal World. We saw your battle with Spike, and how you two became friends."

"Really?"

"Yes, and just like Spike, I will forgive you," Celestia said with a smile.

"I too as well will forgive you," Luna said.

"Thank you... so much."

"Your dark magic might be useful. Just as how Discord's magic is. Speaking of which, where is he?"

"He originally got trapped in Cloudsdale, he got transported back there."

"Yes but... he should have come back by now."


8:30 pm - High Above The Grassy Plains

Spike was flying to the volcano that was his new home.

"I guess this is goodbye... I lived with ponies my whole life, even as a different creature. They took me in, and now... this is what it comes to..." Spike was about to cry. "No, I shouldn't be sad, it wasn't MY fault this happened. Who knows? Maybe I'll be happier this way!" Spike had an angry expression on his face, but he looked down in sadness. "Who am I kidding? I'll miss all of them..."

"Why the sad face?"

"You know well why, Discord." 

Discord appeared in a flash of light in front of Spike, who stopped flying forward.

"Did Celestia send you to get me?"

"No, I came here on my own free will."

"What do you want?"

"I came to ask you if you're coming back."

"Why? Everypony hates me..." Spike looked down. "Hey! That's why you're here isn't it? To take me back to Celestia to lock me up!"

"Why would we lock you up? You are the her-"

"Maybe I deserve to get locked up, I caused havoc across Equestria."

"Spike, we know it wasn't your-"

"Maybe I deserve to get banished, or exiled," He said with widened eyes.

"Spike!"

Spike looked up at Discord.

"Come, take a walk with me, Spike." 

Spike and Discord both flew down and started to walk down a trail. Spike turned off his wings.

"Spike, we all know everything. From when you got controlled to when you saved all of Equestria. You're Equestria's hero."

"B-But then Twilight, and the others-"

"Yes, they all know everything that happened. They aren't mad."

"So then... everypony knows it wasn't my fault!" 

"I'm afraid not every pony knows about how you got controlled, but they do know that you saved Equestria from Armak."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes!" Discord snapped his fingers, and in a flash of light, a shirt that read 'Equestrian's Hero' appeared on Spike.

Discord started explaining what happened after Spike got taken over by Armak. How they saw everything from the Crystal World and that ponies saw him as a hero.

"So everypony knows that it wasn't my fault. But... that doesn't change the fact that I feel terrible."

"So are you coming back?" Discord put his fingers together and started winking with long eyelashes.

"I-I'm sorry... but no." Spike used his magic and the shirt disappeared in a flame.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Don't you remember? I originally ran away because I got abused and neglected." Spike explained.

"Oh, Celestia never told me this." Discord put a claw to his chin.

Spike started to explain the past.

He started to explain how Twilight made him do work. He was happy to help, at first, but soon he noticed that Twilight would make him do ninety percent of the work rather than assisting without getting paid.

He then explained how he was never brought with them on their adventures. And when he was brought along, he would get hurt emotionally or physically and no pony would come to see if he was alright. He even told how he thought they just completely ignored him when they saw he was hurt or in trouble.

He told how he would barely get "thank you"s and if he made one little mistake he would get scolded.

In sadness, the drake also said how he would try to talk with Twilight but she would always just shrug it off as a "phase", or say sorry and then the next day Spike would be neglected again.

The final thing he told Discord was in a sad tone, "I... even thought of her as a sister. I thought... that we were equals. But she just thought of me as a... assistant."

Discord felt pity for the little dragon. "I-I'm sorry Spike... I didn't know..."

"It's alright, no need to be sorry."

"So where are you going to go?"

"Up ahead, there's a volcano. I'm going to live on the top of it. It's the perfect place for a dragon like me."

"Very well. I bid you farewell Spike. I hope for the best." Discord put out his paw.

Spike put out his claw, and they shook paw and claw. 

"Thanks." Spike activated his wings and started to fly forwards, but then turned back. "Oh, Discord? I want to say sorry... for all the damage I caused."

Discord started to chuckle. "Oh Spike, that wasn't you. 'No need to be sorry' remember?" He said.

Spike smiled. "Right. See ya later!"

"Goodbye... Friend." Discord said as he disappeared in a flash of light.


12:00 am - Canterlot Castle - Throne Room 

"All I wanted to do this whole time... was to apologize to Spike. But I couldn't..." Twilight looked down. "The thing I wanted to do the most, I didn't."

"It's okay Twilight, I'm sure we'll find Spike now that this is all over," Fluttershy said.

"Yeah... I just wish I knew where he was."

Twilight and the rest were in the throne room. Celestia and Luna sat on their thrones, Shining Armor left for his duties, Cadence wished Twilight good luck and headed off back to the Crystal Empire, the CMC left angrily, and Armak stood there feeling guilty for the first time in his life.

Suddenly, Discord appeared with a flash above all of them.

"So where have you been?" Celestia asked.

"Oh, I was just chatting with Spike." Discord said as he landed.

Twilight's eyes widened and she looked at Discord. "Y-You saw him? Where is he?"

Discord looked away from Twilight and crossed his arms. "I suppose Spike's neglect isn't important information."

"H-He told you?"

"Yes, and I'm ashamed of all of you, the ones who taught me about friendship, even you Celestia, and you Fluttershy."

Everypony looked down in guilt.

"Why didn't anypony tell me? When Spike told me himself, I felt so sorry for him. My heart was broken. ME! MY heart was broken! And after you treat him like the way you did, you ask me where he is?!"

"We know, w-we... just want to say sorry. I want his forgiveness."

Discord sighed. "He's... headed for the volcano past the Everfree Forest, and even if he doesn't want to come back I'm sure he'll still forgive you all. But don't wait forever to ask for his forgiveness."

"We know, thanks." 

The Mane Six ran out of the throne room, and Celestia walked up to Discord.

"Spike's done so much for others. He deserves much better than this."

"I know." Discord snapped his fingers and a sign pointing to Celestia that said 'worst princess' appeared.

Celestia frowned.


4:00 am - Top Of Volcano

Spike flew down to the volcano. He deactivated his wings and looked around the area.

"Hmm, that's the opening of the volcano, I could take lava baths in there." He turned to one of the few flat areas. "And that looks like good ground to make a home. I could build my home easily now because of my magic, so I guess I can relax a little bit."

Spike walked to the opening of the volcano and jumped in, making a splash of lava. Spike swam up and relaxed in the pool of lava. "Ahhh, the only other time I swam in lava was when the Dragon Migration happened." He glared at nothing in particular. "I remember when Rainbow made fun of me, and that made me want to go to it, to prove myself as a 'dragon'." He looked at the pool of lava. "I could never do this in Ponyville, it's too dangerous for ponies." He sat back a bit. "Ahhh, I could get used to this."

After a couple of minutes, Spike came out of the lava pool and laid down on a rock. He put his claws on the back of his head, closed his eyes, and rested.

An hour passed, Twilight and the others were approaching the volcano.

The Mane Six stopped at the bottom of the volcano.

"This is it girls, Spike's at the top of this volcano." Twilight and the rest looked up. 

"Do we have to climb this thing?" Rarity whined.

"Do you want to apologize to Spike?" 

"...Yes." Rarity said.

"Well, what are we waiting for, let's go!" Pinkie said.


5:20 am - Top Of Volcano

It was dark in the sky. Luna's moon and stars were the only things brightening up Equestria.

Spike was gathering stones with his magic, not paying attention to his surroundings.

Twilight and her friends finally arrived at the top of the volcano. They looked around and saw Spike doing something in the far distance.

"Spike?" She finally found him. "...Spike!" Twilight started to run towards him.

Spike turned around hearing his name being called, and what was more surprising than his name being called out, out of nowhere, was seeing Twilight running up to him. "T-Twilight?"

Twilight stopped a couple meters away from him, the others soon caught up. 

"All of you, are here?"

"Yeah, we are. We know all about how you got controlled Spike, you don't need to fear us!"

"I know, Discord told me... But forget all about that, the real reason you're here is because you want to apologize!"

"Y-Yeah, we do." The Mane Six were surprised at Spike's angry tone.

"You think you can just say sorry, and then everything will go back to normal?! No! I will not be your slave anymore!" Some lava erupted behind Spike as he said that.

"N-No, Spike. We won't make the same mistake again."

"I don't believe you!" A hint of darkness appeared in Spike's eyes.

"We will Spikey! We promise!" Rarity said.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, didn't you already learned that?!"

"We'll keep this one, we've learned from the past!" Applejack said.

"Yeah, we'll even make it up to you," Rainbow said.

"No... stop lying!" Spike's voice grew darker.

"Spike?" Twilight looked at Spike. He was changing, he started to turn back into his dark form.

"What's happening? Why is Spike turning back into that monster?" Fluttershy asked.

"I-I don't know, maybe the spell hasn't been broken! Maybe it was only blocked my Sweetie Belle's love!" Twilight explained. "And now the spell has powered up again because of his sudden hate!"

Suddenly, a big explosion happened where Spike was standing.

The Mane Six coughed from the smoke that quickly surrounded the area, and when the smoke settled down, they could see... him.

Spike was now in his dark form, he had an insane expression on his face. He looked towards Twilight and the others with a big smile and fired.

Like before, the blast completely missed the Mane Six.

"No, the last time this happened he was out of control..." 

She remembered how dangerous Spike was. "Girls! Over here! We have to take cover!" Twilight ran to take cover behind the rock and the others quickly followed.

Spike ignored them and continued to blast everywhere around him while laughing maniacally.

"What have we done?! Now he's in this state again!" Rarity said.

"There's gotta be a way to stop him!" Rainbow said as she flared her wings.

"Ya can't be thinking of pursuing him!" Applejack said.

"Well, if we have no choice, then yeah!"

"This is my fault, I released his anger." Twilight thought to herself. "I've got to fix this." 

Twilight stood up and made her way to Spike.

"Twilight!" The others yelled.

Spike noticed Twilight, "Hello there!" and he started to blow his dragon fire at her.

Twilight used her magic and created a barrier blocking his fire. She slowly made her way to Spike.

Twilight started to talk out loud. "I've made many mistakes in the past, but they were nothing compared to this one. I've treated you wrong, I used you for my own needs. I always made you work for me, and I gave you nothing in return. I kept you working while I had fun, You got abused, but you still showed a happy face every day. When I did take you out, you would just get neglected even more. You looked up to me, you thought of me as a sister, and I never acted like one." Twilight was a few meters away from Spike, and he stopped blowing his fire. "Spike, I'm sorry." Twilight with teary eyes pulled Spike into a big hug.

Spike smiled. "Are you really sorry?"

This made Twilight release her grip a little, but she still held on to Spike. "W-What?" She asked in disbelief.

"Hmph. I would never believe that "you're sorry."" He started to gently push Twilight's hooves off of him.

Unfortunately for Twilight, Spike's "gentle" was pretty strong for her standards. She used all of her might, however, and never let go.

"You're not Spike..." She started. "Spike wouldn't attack us after we would try to apologize. In the worst case, he would shrug us off, wouldn't care, and break our hearts. But he wouldn't even do that!" She stated.

"Spike", raised an eyebrow while grinning. "I am Spike. Can't you see?"

"Spike, listen to me. You can't let yourself be taken over by Armak's spell. You're strong enough to overcome it."

"I'm not in anypony's spell!"

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "I'm not talking to you." She glared at the imposter in front of her. "I'm talking to Spike!"

"Spike" glared back.

"Spike, please."

"Spike" grinned. "I'll never let your Spike be released. I, the rightful Spike, will be in control-" His eyes widened as he started to flash, he started to turn back into his regular self. "No! You fool!"

In Spike's Mind

"What are you doing?!" Dark Spike asked.

"I defeated you last time. I can do it again!" Spike replied. "I won't let you hurt my friends."

"...Fool."

Dark Spike seemed like he was evaporating. Like the last time Spike defeated him.

He grinned. "Fine. Have this win..."

Spike raised an eyebrow.

"But I tell you this, you cannot get rid of me. I am a part of you!"

"You're not a part of me! I'm nothing like you! You're just a spell that uses my rage. But no matter how much rage I produce the real me wouldn't hurt others."

"...Hmph, so be it." Dark Spike smiled as he disappeared. That smile soon turned into chuckling, then into straight evil laughter. 

Even after he disappeared his laughter echoed within Spike's mind for a few moments, before fading away.

Volcano

The scales on the belly started to turn back into the brighter shade of green, the darkness was removed from his eyes.

Spike looked up and saw Twilight looking at him with tears running down her cheeks. "T-Twilight..."

"Spike, I hope you can forgive me," Twilight said as she released him from her embrace.

Spike frowned. "You're not my friend."

Twilight's eyes widened. She turned around and started to walk away sadly, just for Spike to hop on her back and hug her neck a second later. 

"You're my sister." 

Twilight looked back. "Spike?"

"I forgive you, Twilight." He said with tears running down his face and a big smile plastered on.

Twilight grew a smile on her face as well and tightly hugged Spike back.

"Not so... Tight!"

Twilight noticed what she was doing and stepped back blushing. "Oops, sorry."

"You and Sweetie Belle aren't so different," He muttered.

The rest of the Mane Six approached Spike and Twilight. "Can ya forgive us too?"

Spike gave them all a warm smile. "Of course, I can."

They all ran towards Spike and they performed a group hug.

Just then, Sweetie Belle peeked up from behind a rock. "Finally!"

"Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie Belle ran up to Spike. She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.

Everypony but Rainbow Dash 'awwed', and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom also peeked out from the rock.

"Everything turned out alright after all just like Sweetie Belle said it would." Apple Bloom stated.

Spike, the CMC, and Mane Six, all looked at the sunrise from atop the volcano.

"Incredible view," Applejack said.

"It's simply fabulous!" Rarity said.

They all stood there, watching the view until Spike and Twilight finally decided to get on home.

With a massive flash of purple and green, the big group of ponies teleported away.
> The Aftermath/Happy Endings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a week since Spike's forgiveness, and Equestria is back to it's peaceful days.

Armak has gone to live with the princesses in the castle for the time being. He's fitting in with the princesses, not so much the guards and causal ponies, but things have been worse for Armak. Soon enough, ponies will grow accustomed to the reformed Armak. Only time stands in the way.

Spike's been doing well with Twilight at Ponyville. He still works as her 'Number One Assistant', but not the same as before. Twilight picks up after herself more often, and when she doesn't, Spike is more than happy to do it for her. Being Twilight's assistant is much easier with magic, now he can cook and clean at the same time with no trouble. He has a lot more free time than usual. Since he doesn't have to influence Rarity anymore, Spike can have fun rather than waste his time. He goes out with Sweetie Belle and spends more time with the Mane Six, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Spike is still yet to get his own room with a proper bed, but that will come soon enough. Besides, he enjoys sleeping with his sister. But there's one more problem that Spike's been worried about this whole time. He may have been recognized as a hero across Equestria, but there is that one thing ponies still have when they see Spike. That one thing is...

Fear.


10:00 am - Ponyville

Spike was finished dusting the floor with a broom. Or, a dozen brooms in fact.

"Ahhhh, all done! Magic really is great, sweeping multiple brooms in multiple places at the same time."

Spike went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Even when he had second thoughts about being Twilight's... erm, slave before, he always enjoyed cooking. Whenever he had nothing to do, he would cook something up and chow down. Especially if he had some spare gems lying around.

Spike began to make some waffle mix. He used his magic to bring all of the ingredients one by one, taking a mental note, checking the ingredients off.

Some hoofsteps could be heard coming from upstairs.

"Hm? Twilight must be awake now. Perfect timing!" Spike said as he poured the mix into the waffle maker.

After about 2 minutes, Twilight came downstairs and trotted off to the kitchen. As she stepped into the kitchen, she smelt something wonderful. 

She then noticed Spike. "Spike? Oh, good morning!" She yawned. "Gosh, I had a great sleep."

"Good morning Twi, I made some breakfast for you, some nice hot delicious waffles!"

"Mmmmm, it does smell delicious. Thanks, Spike!"

"No problem, Twilight. Enjoy!" 

"I think I will!" Twilight sat down at the table. "...You know, you don't always have to cook for me." 

"Why not? It's not like you can cook for yourself." Spike giggled.

"Hey! If I practice, then maybe I can learn." Twilight frowned.

"Keyword: 'maybe'."

"Don't use my own words against me!"

"Relax, I'm just kidding. But really, I don't mind cooking for you. It's fun actually."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay, if you say so. ...Oh, I almost forgot! Pinkie's throwing a big party tonight, and she needs our help. You don't mind if..."

"Of course, I'll help Twilight. What's the party for?"

"Oh, you know Pinkie. Always needs, at least, one party every week." Twilight smiled to herself.

"Oh, it's one of those parties. Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"I'll be out all day helping out with the party, so I left a list of things that you could do to help. I think I left the list in the library." 

"Alright, see ya later! I got a lot of stuff to do!" Spike waved and headed to the library to get the list.

Twilight waved back and took a bite of Spike's waffles. Her eyes widened. "SWEET CELESTIA, THESE ARE SOOOOOOOO GOOD!"


Spike entered the library and looked around for the list. He noticed a sheet of paper on Twilight's studying desk. He picked it up and read:

"Okay, so I have to... pick up the cake, help bring Vinyl and Octavia's music set, get Rarity some gems, make sure the weather patrol clear the clouds, send Discord an invitation, and... looks like that's it!" Spike made his way out the library, activated his wings, and flew off to fulfill his tasks.


11:00 am - Sugarcube Corner

Spike landed in front of the popular sweets store. His wings disappeared in a flame as he walked into the building.

"Hello? Here for cake pickup!" Spike walked up to the counter and waited patiently.

"Coming! Sorry, I was on the phone. What could I do for yo-" Mrs. Cake stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Spike. She looked at him for a brief moment and had a quick flashback of Spike blowing up her shop.

Mrs. Cake started sweating. "What... could I... do for you?" Mrs. Cake looked terrified.

Spike raised an eyebrow in concern. "Mrs. Cake? What's the matter?"

"J-Just tell me what you want."

"Oookaay? I need the cake for Pinkie's big party this afternoon. You should know which one."

"Y-Yes, I'll go get it quickly." Mrs. Cake went to the back of the shop to get the cake.

"Okay, thanks!" Spike crossed his arms. "Why does she look so scared?"

Mrs. Cake came back with the party cake as if she was rushing, worried. "H-Here, this is the cake I baked for Pinkie." The cake was large with multiple layers of white cake. She rolled it in with a wooden platform on wheels. It was much larger than the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness. Or the MMMM for short. It was amazing it could still fit inside the building.

"Alright, thanks! Um? You can tell me what's wrong Mrs. Cake, maybe I can help."

"Nothing's wrong, just please don't destroy anything." Mrs. Cake hid behind the counter shivering.

"She's scared of me!" Spike thought. "Mrs. Cake, I-I won't destroy anything, just let me explain-" Spike tried to reason.

"Just get out, please!" Mrs. Cake didn't move from behind the counter.

Spike sighed. He used his magic and held the cake in place. He proceeded to carry the cake out the shop, having to tilt it in order for it to fit through the door.

"I-I guess I'll have to talk to her later..." Spike looked down. "Well, I have to take this to Pinkie... Oh no! Twilight didn't tell me where the party's going to be held!" Spike's wings appeared in a flame, and he flew up, carrying the cake with his magic. He looked all around from above. He saw some pink streamers and flew towards it. 

Spike was relieved to see multiple ponies, including Pinkie Pie, decorating the place.

Spike flew to Pinkie and landed beside her. "Hey Pinkie, where does the cake go?"

"Great! You got the cake! You can't have parties without the cake. It wouldn't be a party without the cake." Pinkie said happily.

"Um? Yeah... Where do I put it?"

"Oh, put it over there." Pinkie pointed to a long table with a covered banner over it.

"Okay. Oh, what's the party, for now, Pinkie?"

"Oh you know, THEE party."

"THEE party?"

"Yeah, that's what I said silly. THEE party."

Spike shrugged. He went over to the table and placed the cake down.

"Okay, what's next on my list?" Spike pulled out the list that Twilight wrote for him. "Pick up the cake: Check! Now I have to help bring the music equipment. That should be easy with my magic." Spike said as he cracked his knuckles. 

He then flew off to the studio.


11:30 am - Vinyl and Octavia's Music Studio

Spike arrived at the studio. He deactivated his wings, opened the door and walked in. 

"Hello?"

"Sorry, very busy right now!" The voice belonged to Octavia.

"I'm here to help move all of the equipment to the party!"

Hoofsteps could be heard coming towards the room. "Oh, sorry. The equipment is in there-" 

Octavia's eyes widened when she saw Spike. "They sent YOU to pick up our equipment?!"

"Yup. So it's in that room-" Spike started to walk towards the room Octavia was pointing to but stopped when she interrupted him.

"No no, I think we can get another pony to do it for us."

"How come I can't just do it for you?"

"For you to just damage it? I'm sorry Spike, but I think I would like somepony else to do it. I'll call them myself, I won't trust any pony you send." Octavia looked away from Spike.

Spike looked down and sighed. "Alright then." Spike walked out of the studio building.

He pulled out his list. "Okay, bring the music set: Check," Spike said sarcastically. "The next thing I have to do is... get some gems for Rarity. That shouldn't be too hard, I saw a great area to dig up gems the last time I went with Rarity."

Spike activated his wings and flew off. He flew past the Everfree Forest and landed in a dirt patch.

"Alright!" Spike closed his eyes and a wave a magic swarmed the area. All around you could see gemstones through the dirt.

Spike used his magic and lifted all the gems out of the ground. "This'll do!" In a flame, a big bag appeared in Spike's claw.

After getting enough gems, Spike proceeded to fly off to Carousel Boutique.


1:00 pm - Carousel Boutique

Spike landed in front of Rarity's Boutique and walked up to the front door.

Spike opened the door and walked in.

"Rarity! I got the gems you needed!" Spike walked upstairs and went into Rarity's workroom.

Rarity was sitting at her desk using a sewing machine. She turned around to see Spike.

"Hello, Spikey Wikey, what brings you here?"

"I came to drop off the gems you wanted. What dress are you making with these?"

"Oh uh, nothing? I just need these for future use." Rarity had a big smile in her face and she was sweating.

"Alrighty then. Catch ya later!" 

Rarity watched as Spike exited the room. "Phew, I can't believe he didn't catch on to that."

Little did Rarity know, a flying drake with his arms crossed was watching her from outside the window. "What's got Rarity so worked up?" He raised an eyebrow but soon shrugged. "Oh well, I'll ask her later. I've got work to do!" Spike flew off to his next objective.

"Let's see..." Spike pulled out the list. "I have to make sure the clouds are clear. Hmm, where to find Rainbow Dash..." 


2:30 pm - Sky

"There you are Rainbow!" Spike flew up to Rainbow who was watching other pegasi remove clouds.

"Hey, Spike! How's it goin'?"

"I'm good, I came to check if everything is going alright up here. You know, all the cloud removal."

"Yeah, everything's fine. We'll be done WAY before the party starts."

"Great! Well, I'll be going-"

"Is that the dragon?!" One pegasus screamed.

"Yeah, it is! Everypony, get out of here!" Another one spoke.

"Huh? What's up with everypony?" Rainbow asked.

Spike sighed. "They're still scared because I destroyed everything."

"I don't know what's up with the pegasi." A familiar voice spoke.

Spike and Rainbow turned to see Spitfire and Lightning Dust coming towards them.

"Oh, hey Spitfire, and Lightning! Your squad done with the clouds?"

Spitfire spoke. "Yeah."

"What's wrong with the ponies?"

"It's just when they saw Spike flying around, they started to fly away screaming."

"Yeah, my squad just did that too. I'm sorry Spike." Rainbow Dash said.

"You don't have to be. Not just the pegasi, everypony is scared of me. Anyways, I gotta go. I'll probably just go home after this."

"What about the big party?"

"Why should I go? Everypony's just gonna leave because I'm there..." He said sadly. "See you later." Spike flew off.

Rainbow was in deep thought. "Oh no! All of this..." She was panicking.

"I don't understand. He saved all of Equestria, why are they still afraid?" Lightning Dust asked.

"I guess it's because they don't know the whole story about Armak and about you guys using him. Darky showed us Spike's past, so I guess that's why we're not acting like that. Speaking of which..." Spitfire turned to Rainbow with an angry expression. "Why did you do all those things to Spike! He was so defenseless!" 

"Oh, you heard?" Rainbow looked down.

"We've done more than heard! We saw everything! Every little insult you made."

"I know, I feel really bad for what I've done."

"Well, at least, you got some punishment." Lightning Dust said with a smirk.

"What? No, I didn't."

"Yeah, Spike is now above you in everything. Even speed."

"What! Wait, never mind that, I have no time for this. I have to find Twilight!"

"Trying to change the subject now?" 

"No, really! There's a huge problem now that Twilight needs to know about. I need to find her."

"Rainbow wait!" Spitfire tried to call out to her but she was long gone.

"Darn, just will have to wait until next time."


4:00 pm - Fluttershy's Cottage

Spike sighed. "Just have to give Discord his invitation, then I'll be all done! It would be much easier if I had his address." He knocked on the front door.

The door opened and Fluttershy stepped out. She smiled warmly when she noticed Spike. "Hi, Spike. What brings you here?"

"Well, actually, I came to ask where Discord lives. I know you're busy with the animals and stuff but I'll be quick."

"Oh! Well... if you want to see Discord, he's right in here." Fluttershy stepped aside showing Discord sitting on her couch. 

"Hey, Discord! I came to tell you about the party." Spike stepped in the cottage.

"Oh, uh sorry for your troubles, but Fluttershy already told me all about it."

"Oh, so I came here for nothing then... That's alright, you didn't know." Spike was about to walk away when Fluttershy stopped him.

"Um? Spike? Is there something wrong? You seem down today."

"It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure. I know that look Spike."

"I'm sure."

"Okay..." Her eyes widened in realization. "Wait, no! I won't make the same mistake again!" Fluttershy grabbed Spike and brought him to the couch Discord was sitting on. "I won't abandon you again Spike, tell me what's wrong. NOW!"

Discord and Spike were surprised at Fluttershy's sudden outburst.

Spike knew there was no way out of this than to tell them the truth. "Well, it's just that everypony's still scared of me because of what happened last week with Armak. They all run away and panic. I can't blame them, I really traumatized them." He looked down.

"Spike, it wasn't your fault. We can explain it to them and they will understand."

"It's alright, thanks for caring, though. I guess I won't go to the party later."

"Oh... Wait? What?! You have to go to the party!" She flew up to Spike and held him by the shoulders.

"Why? Everypony will just run away." Spike looked depressed.

"But everypony will be there."

"If I do go, nopony will there. It's alright, it's just one party. Anyways, I'll be off now. Have a great time at the party!" Spike opened the door and flew off.

When Spike was out of hearing range, Fluttershy began to speak. "We have to find Twilight."


Spike was flying around thinking to himself. "I guess everypony fears me for what I've done before. They'll always run away from me, so why should I even bother to come out to the public? Maybe I should always stay inside the library and rarely come out." He sighed. " I guess things were never going to change."


6:00 pm - Ponyville

Everypony was busy. The Princesses and Armak arrived not so long ago, and they were almost finished preparing the party. 

The fact that it's so busy is a problem. Rainbow can't find Twilight anywhere, and there's an emergency situation.

Rainbow saw Fluttershy flying around, looking like she was looking for something. "Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy turned around and saw Rainbow. "Rainbow Dash! I need to find-"

"That can wait, we have an emergency! Spike's not coming to the party and I need to find Twilight."

"That's what I was going to say. Spike thinks that he'll scare everypony so he's not coming, and I can't find Twilight anywhere!"

"Well come on, if we search together we'll find her faster. Ask around if any pony saw her not too long ago."

Fluttershy nodded and they continued their search for Twilight.


6:30 pm - Town Square

The decorations we're almost complete and the party starts at seven o' clock. 

Twilight was having a discussion with Celestia by the big table with the cake when Rainbow and Fluttershy flew in.

"Twilight! We need to talk! Something happened!"

"Hey Rainbow, hey Fluttershy! What's wrong?"

"Spike's not coming to the party, he went back home," Fluttershy said.

"You guys are silly that's nothing to worry about- wait what?!" Twilight scratched her ear in case it wasn't working.

"Spike feels that he'll scare everypony at the party, so he doesn't want to cause any problems," Rainbow said.

Celestia put a hoof to Twilight's shoulder. "How about you go talk to Spike about this. We'll finish up here."

"Okay... Wait, actually... Princess?" Twilight began to whisper in Celestia's ear.

Celestia smiled. "That's a great idea!"

"Yeah, and after, I'll go fetch Spike."

"Alright." Celestia made a microphone appear with her magic, and she put it to her mouth. "Citizens of Ponyville, we are moving the party elsewhere. It won't be any more trouble than it has been so far, I just need to move all of this with my magic. Stand clear everypony!" 

Every pony stood out the way and with a flash of light, all the equipment was moved somewhere else. 

"Let's go." Celestia flew up with Twilight, Rainbow, and Fluttershy.


7:00 - Wastelands

Not far from Ponyville, multiple party tables with food appeared. It was a very very big area. Big enough for all of Equestria's ponies to gather, and that was Twilight's intention. Lights brightened the area up as Celestia lowered the sun. In the middle of all the tables and food was a stage. The stage had speakers and music equipment. 

Soon, the Princesses, Armak, Discord, Twilight and her friends all arrived.

"Wow Princess, this is perfect! I'm sure everypony could fit here." Twilight said in amazement.

"I would never disappoint you. Besides, Discord could rearrange Ponyville, why not in the middle of nowhere?"

Discord looked up in dramatic pride.

"How about we call everypony here now?"

"Yes, that's the plan," Twilight said.

Discord snapped his talon. 

"Ponies of Equestria, mares, and stallions, fillies and colts, ponies of all ages, this is your princess speaking." Celestia's voice could be heard all around Equestria in the minds of ponies. "There is going to be a grand party and I would like all of you to come at nine o' clock. You are all welcome to join Equestria's first Equestrian-wide party! Our friend Discord and newly reformed Armak has put the destination of the party in your memories, and I hope every one of you will arrive. You wouldn't want to disappoint your princess after all. See you all soon." Celestia's horn stopped glowing.

"Wow princess, that was great! Now we just have to wait until everypony arrives."

"Two hours should be enough for even the crystal ponies to show up on time," Cadence explained.

The others nodded, agreeing.

Soon enough, ponies from every city started to arrive. First Ponyville, following Canterlot, then the Apple Family, and so forth.


9:00 - Party Area

Everypony in Equestria arrived at the party. Most were asking for the reason about this sudden party.

Celestia stood on the stage with the others behind her. "Your attention here please," She said on the mic.

Everypony started to focus on Celestia.

"I know that you're all wondering what's this all about, and we shall explain." Celestia motioned for the Mane Six to come upstage.

Twilight walked upstage and her friends followed. They started to talk on the mic.

Twilight spoke first. "Citizens of Equestria, we have an announcement... This party is for the celebration of our good friend returning home. A lot of you may know him, a lot of you may... fear him. His name is Spike, the only dragon resident in Equestria."

Multiple gasps could be heard.

Rarity took the mic next. "We wanted to throw this party to continue our apology to him. We have treated him wrong in every way."

Rainbow took the mic. "And to follow that we also wanted to thank him for saving Equestria."

Applejack followed suit. "But we have heard a lot of things happening around." 

"Everypony runs from him, making him feel abandoned," Fluttershy said.

"Everypony fears him, because of what happened last week." Rarity said.

"So he's not coming because he knows you all will fear him," Twilight explained.

"And that makes us very sad." Pinkie finished.

Luna took upstage. "You don't have to fear him, for what he has done was not his fault."

Cadence stood up. "He may have attacked many cities, but he has been under control."

Armak walked up behind Twilight. "May I speak?" He whispered.

Twilight smiled and said, "Sure."

Armak took the mic. When he did, many ponies looked worried. "...I-I was the one who took control of him.... I was the one who made him do all those terrible things. I am truly sorry. If there's any pony you should blame and fear, it should be me..."

"But even Armak has changed, so there's no need to be worried." Discord spoke.

"You all saw him. He fought for all of us bravely. He loves all of us." Celestia said.

The ones on the stage waited. 

There was no response.

"I... hope you all understand now. And I hope you all understand enough so we can all enjoy this party with him." Twilight finished.

It was silent for a second when, some of the Crystal ponies started to cheer, others started to follow. And soon enough, it looked as if all of Equestria was cheering for Spike the dragon.

Twilight smiled. "Thanks, everypony. I'll go get Spike." She ran towards Ponyville.

All the ponies watch happily, anticipating their hero's arrival.

9:30 pm - Golden Oaks Library

Twilight stepped into her home. "Spike? You here?" 

She walked upstairs, and into their room. Spike was sleeping on Twilight's bed peacefully. 

"Awww." Twilight trotted up to her bed. "Hey, Spike. Wake up." Twilight gently shook him.

Spike groaned. "Ugh, what?" Spike yawned and slowly opened his eyes. He was shocked to see Twilight. "Oh, uh, hope you didn't mind me sleeping on your bed." Spike chuckled nervously. 

"I don't mind at all Spike." Twilight pulled Spike into a big hug.

"Is the party over?" Spike asked after their embrace ended.

"Not exactly... Speaking of which, why didn't you come?" 

"I thought it was better if I didn't go. It's better if dozens of ponies go rather than one dragon."

"Well, why don't you come now? We still have some time left until the party's over."

"Why should I? I'll just scare every pony away."

"I think it's a little different this time Spike."

"What do you mean Twi?"

"Just come and you'll see."

"Well..."

"I promise nothing will go wrong."

"Pinkie Promise?" Spike said with a grin.

"I Pinkie Promise. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Twilight said while doing the gesture.

"Okay fine, I'll come."

"Great!" Twilight used her magic to put Spike on her back. "Oh, one more thing." She covered Spike's eyes with a blindfold. 

"Um, what's with the blindfold?"

"Maybe ponies won't recognize you?" Twilight said nervously.

"I can't see..." He deadpanned.

"Don't worry about that."

Spike raised a brow.

Twilight took Spike past Ponyville and to the party area.

"Shouldn't we be at the party by now?" Spike asked.

"We're almost there."

The two were approaching the party's new area. They could hear many conversations going on.

As they got closer, the talking started to stop talking.

Everypony turned quiet seeing Twilight bringing Spike with the blindfold, they knew it was supposed to be a surprise.

"They've stopped whatever they were doing because they're too shooked because of me. I knew I shouldn't have come." Spike thought to himself.

Twilight took Spike upstage and placed him down with her magic. "Okay Spike, you can take off the blindfold now."

Spike did just that and went wide eyed when he saw the huge crowd as they cheered. "What's all this?"

"This is a party for you, Spike. Are you surprised?" 

"Yeah but, why aren't they frightened?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Didn't I tell you, Spike? It's THEE party. Tremendous High-Quality Enormous Excitement!"

Spike chuckled.

Celestia went upstage and took the mic. "Spike, you have shown many great actions for your years in Equestria. You have shown loyalty, kindness, honesty, generosity. You have made ponies around you smile, and you're a very great friend to every pony. You may ask why I just described you as the Elements of Harmony. And that's because you represent each and every one of them. You have done many great things, you have helped Twilight all your life, and you saved the Crystal Empire. You influenced others, and you're the hero of Equestria. You are also the brother of Princess Twilight. And for all of those reasons, I hereby declare you, Prince Spike!"

Everypony cheered.

"Wha-What?" 

"Didn't you hear? You are my little brother Spike. Technically speaking, being the little brother of the princess makes you a prince."

"B-But Prince? Why so suddenly? W-Why me?"

"For the fact that you represent every Element Of Harmony, and you're Twilight's brother... Yeah! That does make sense." Rainbow said.

"I-I guess so, but what do I do as a prince?"

"I guess we both have that same problem now," Twilight said.

"You will find your destinies soon enough, but now, we have a party to throw."

Twilight nodded and took the mic with her magic. "Let's party every pony!"

And with that, the party started. Ponies ate, danced to the music that was played by Vinyl's crew, talked, and had fun.

Sweetie Belle walked up to Spike and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm so happy!"

"Why so?" Spike said while giggling.

"Because you're happy." 

Spike embraced Sweetie Belle in a hug. "That means a lot. Thanks, Sweetie Belle!"

Sweetie Belle blushed. "Come on, let's dance Spike!" She said suddenly.

"Huh?!"


11:30 pm - THEE Party

The party was still as active as it was when it first started. 

Every second, ponies would come to thank Spike for saving Equestria. The ponies from Canterlot would commend him for the beautiful dress he made while fighting Armak. Some even saying sorry for making him feel abandoned, but Spike didn't really blame them for their actions in the first place.

Just then, some ponies were rolling a large cake to the big table in front of the stage.

It was the same cake from before, Spike thought. But something was different. Something good. 

"Rarity? Aren't those the gems I got for you? Weren't you going to use them for your dresses?"

"Yes they are, but I never intended to use them for my dresses." Rarity winked at him.

Spike smiled.

Celestia took the mic and walked up stage. "As this party is going well, it is sad to say that every party must end. But we will end it with one last song. This song is to someone special, someone who is known as the hero of Equestria. This song's for Spike, who has done so much for us. Vinyl, Octavia, HIT IT!"

Celestia - Lead Singer


Ponies danced and cheered. Luna took Armak's hoof and took him in front of the stage, Discord took Fluttershy's hoof and they danced in front of the stage. Cadence and Shining Armor also went to the front and started dancing, Apple Bloom took Scootaloo, and Twilight and her friends followed. Spike was standing in front of a table watching his friends dance, as Sweetie Belle came up to him. She blushed, beamed, then dragged Spike to the front to dance. The dragon couldn't object.

The music played on as the ponies danced away. 


12:00 am - Hill

The party was over. Spike and Sweetie Belle were watching Ponyville from a hill. 

"This is my home, and I will always protect it."

"I'm sure you will, and I'll always be by your side." Sweetie Belle said as she hugged Spike.

The two sat there, Sweetie Belle leaning on Spike, watching their home under the night sky, wondering what will await them in the future.


Next Time On Season Spike


Afraid to tell Spike because of his new immense powers, Sweetie Belle tries to find other ponies to help her and her friends from the common bullies from school, but matters get worse and worse. It seems that Spike is the only option now, right?


> [Episode 3: Bully Problems] Just An Annoyance... Right?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a normal school day, like every other... mostly. 

The class was properly seated, the teacher was at the board teaching, the students were quiet, and it was not boring... Wait? Did I just say school wasn't boring? 

***

Ms. Cheerilee was standing in front of the chalkboard. "Okay class, before the bell rings I'll give an introduction to our next subject; 2 digit-multiplication!" She heard a lot of groans but ignored them.

Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was waiting for what she knew was about to happen next. As she slowly hid under her desk, she glanced at the clock above the classroom door, and saw that it was 2:58. She knew it was bound to happen as soon as the dismiss bell rung.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie, then to Scootaloo who looked back. They both nodded. 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had a talk with Sweetie Belle the other day, and they had a plan this time to get Sweetie free. They told Sweetie Belle about some "Master Plan" that was "going to work". They haven't told Sweetie Belle this plan yet, but Sweetie Belle trusts them.

"Just thirty more seconds!" Sweetie Belle thought. "I hope their plan works!"

Just then, the school bell rang.

As soon as the bell rung, every pony in the class rushed up to Sweetie's desk, surrounding her.

Sweetie Belle looked around her, not to see her fellow classmates packing their stuff, but her fellow classmates surrounding her like news reporters.

"How is he?" 

"You're sooo lucky!"

"Can I meet him?"

Everypony in the classroom knew about Sweetie Belle's relationship with Spike.

"Um? Um?" Yesterday, Sweetie Belle had to stay tucked in a locker for half an hour to shake off these "pests".

"Sweetie Belle?" One voice said.

Sweetie Belle looked down and saw Pipsqueak. "Yes, Pipsqueak?" Sweetie Belle asked kindly.

"Can you um, ask the prince to get in touch with Luna, to ask her to visit my dreams again?" 

"I, um?" 

Sweetie Belle got interrupted by Dinky. "He's my hero! Can I see him?"

"Uh maybe-"

"Can he teach me how to fly as fast as him?" This time, she got interrupted by Rumble. 

The questions and demands kept on flooding. 

"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo! Where are you?" Sweetie Belle thought.

Suddenly, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo with black suits and sunglasses zipped in front of Sweetie Belle, blocking the other fillies and colts.

"Stand aside! 'Future princess' needs some space." Apple Bloom said in a serious tone.

"If you have any questions, see us never!" Scootaloo said in the same tone.

Sweetie Belle face hoofed. "You guys aren't serious."

They both turned and faced Sweetie Belle. "Hey! We might get 'bodyguard' cutie marks!" Apple Bloom said while taking off her sunglasses.

"When you girls said that "you had a plan", I thought you meant something that will get me OUT OF HERE!"


On the opposite side of the classroom, two fillies were watching this "unbelievable" occurrence.

Diamond Tiara began to speak. "How could SHE be getting all the attention? She just happens to be dating a dragon that saved Equestria. It doesn't mean anything!"

"It's not like she did anything AMAZING. Look at us, we're divine, beautiful, talented, ugh! She doesn't even have a cutie mark!"

"We need to find some way to divert the attention to us. Then we'll be the winners here." Diamond put a hoof to her chin. "I just need to think of something."

"Maybe we can call her 'cool' so she'll let US see Prince Spike."

"No, don't you remember what happened last time. We got shunned by Princess Twilight."

"Oh yeah..."

"We need to hit her HARD, let her know that no pony steals our thunder!"


Ms. Cheerilee walked up to the group of students. "Okay children, leave poor Sweetie Belle alone please."

"'Poor'? She has Prince Spike, she's far from it." Snips said.

"Spike is just a normal pony, er? Dragon, just like all of you. He lives a normal life just like us, and he deserves respect and privacy. Do you all understand?"

The students nodded.

"Good, now go off, and stop wasting your afternoon." Ms. Cheerilee said kindly.

Soon enough the colts and fillies started to pack their things and exited the room.

Right as Sweetie Belle was about to leave, Cheerilee called her from her desk. "Sweetie, can I talk with you for a moment?"

Sweetie Belle trotted up to her teacher's desk. "Yes, Ms. Cheerilee?"

"So um? How is he?!?" Cheerilee said while resting her cheeks on her hoofs.

She said those last three words a little too quickly for Sweetie Belle's taste. "URG! You're all the same!" Sweetie Belle proceeded to walk out of the classroom angrily.

Cheerilee ignored her words as she was daydreaming about her hero.


Sweetie Belle walked out of the school. Luckily, those who were waiting there was only Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

"Thank Celestia you girls took off those stupid outfits." Sweetie Belle said.

"Well we didn't get our 'bodyguard' cutie marks, so we didn't need them, duh!" Scootaloo said.

Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo a stern look, then turned to a sad Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie? Ya alright?"

"No! I'm not! It's been the same thing this whole week! Lunch, right after the bell rings, or free time, I get flooded with our 'friends', then after, either you girls, myself or Ms. Cheerilee saves me. But right after Ms. Cheerilee turns into one of them!"

"Look, soon they will wear off, we just have to wait," Scootaloo informed.

"I guess so."

"How about we go get some shakes at Sugarcube Corner, that'll cheer you up!" Apple Bloom suggested. 

"Yeah! How about it? Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked.

"Yeah sure, let's go." Sweetie Belle said with a sad smile.





The Next Day (Friday) 11:29 AM

Sweetie Belle sat quietly in class. She looked around to see the worried faces of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She gave them the "It's going to be okay" look and faced the front once again.

Just after that, her worst nightmare happened.

The bell rung.

Sweetie Belle bolted towards the door as fast as she could. She made it out of the classroom and headed to the playground. Once she did, she went to go plop onto the merry-go-round. 

Though she ran as fast as she could, she wasn't the first one out. Other ponies from other classes were out but they weren't paying any attention to Sweetie Belle.

"That's weird." Sweetie thought. "Maybe they wore off like Scootaloo said they would." Sweetie started to smile a little.

Soon after, her class started to come out of the school including Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. 

She waved at her friends and they met her at the merry-go-round.

"Wow, ya sure got out of there fast Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah, not as fast as Rainbow Dash, though," Scootaloo said.

"I think the others got the 'hint'!" Sweetie explained.

Sweetie looked to her left and she saw a big group of fillies and colts having a conversation. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but at times three or four of them would look back at her, and then quickly turn back to their group.

Sweetie's smile turned back into a frown. "Or maybe not."


Across the playground, once again, were the two evil bullies.

"I think I got something!" Diamond said.

"What? Really!" Silver Spoon said excitedly.

"Yeah, I think- oh, no, it's just another stupid rock."

What in Equestria are those two doing?





"Five, four, three, two, one..." Sweetie Belle said in annoyance.

(Ring)

In a mere second, everypony in the classroom surrounded Sweetie Belle. 

Sweetie Belle screamed in annoyance.

Ten Minutes Later

Sweetie Belle was alone in the hallway, she was putting away some of her things in her locker.

At the end of the hall, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were looking at Sweetie Belle with frowns on their faces.

Suddenly, Diamond grew a smirk on her face. "Silver, I think I thought of something."

"Really? What?"

Diamond leaned closer to Silver. "Here's what we're going to do..."

Sweetie Belle was still at her locker, putting away her things. 

At the end of the hall, Diamond Tiara finished explaining her plan.

"That's perfect! That'll show her not to steal our spotlight."

As Sweetie finished putting away her things, she looked to her left to see Tiara and Spoon coming towards her.

"Urg! Let me guess? You want to see my drakefriend, Prince Spike? Well, forget it!" Sweetie said as she slammed the locker door.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both started to laugh, loudly.

Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion. "What happened?"

Diamond Tiara laughed as she talked. "You actually BELIEVE, Prince Spike is your drakefriend?"

"What do you mean? He is." Sweetie grew more confused.

"No, he's not, he's acting. He doesn't love you one bit." Silver said, barely containing her laughter.

This time, Sweetie was the one to break up in laughter. "Out of all the things... you two have said... to try to hurt me... that was... the saddest... attempt... EVER!" Sweetie fell to the floor.

"We're not trying to hurt you, we're... telling you the truth. Think really hard Sweetie Belle. Why would Spike want to be your drakefriend?"

"Um? He always says that I'm pretty, I'm cool, I'm nice." Sweetie said, checking things off mentally. "He calls me cute." Sweetie said while blushing. "I saved him from that darkness magic thingy, and the obvious, he loves me."

The two bullies started laughing again.

"Come on Sweetie Belle, I THOUGHT you were smarter than that," Diamond said.

"Huh?"

"Alright. Who's the pony Spike wanted the most before you?"

"Everypony knows that, my sister Rarity."

"Good, now who do you think is closest to Rarity?"

"Mom and dad?" Sweetie guessed.

"Closer than that."

"M-Me?"

Diamond Tiara nodded. "Spike wants to be with you, not because he loves you, because he wants to be closer to Rarity, the one he truly wants most."

Sweetie's smile turned into a frown. "N-No, that's silly. That's not true... Is it?" 

"Of course it's true, Spike doesn't want to be with a Stupid, Untalented, Blank Flank Nobody like you."

Sweetie Belle was on the verge of tears. "He... he doesn't-"

"And what's worse, you take advantage too. You use your relationship to get more popular. You use HIM!" Silver Spoon added.

"I... I..." Sweetie shut her eyes shut, trying not to let her tears escape. She failed, and tears were streaming down her face.

"You don't deserve him, the way you use your relationship." Diamond Tiara said.

She soon started to run away, hearing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon laughing behind her. She ran out the hallway, and soon out the School. She ran past her two friends who were waiting for her.

"Sweetie Belle? Hey! What's wrong?" Apple Bloom tried to call out to her, but she was long.

"What's the matter with her?" Scootaloo asked worriedly.

"Ah don't know."

"That deals with her." 

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo knew that voice a little too well. They both turned angrily at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"What's wrong with you two?!?! Sweetie Belle didn't do anything to you!" Apple Bloom spat out.

"Yeah! What did you do to her?" Scootaloo asked.

"We, didn't do anything. All we did was tell her the truth." Silver Spoon said smugly.

"What, truth? Why is she cryin' like that?" Apple Bloom asked.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grunted.

"Ya'll will pay for this." Apple Bloom and Scootaloo began to run after Sweetie Belle. "Ah'll be sure to tell Spike about this. He'll banish you two for good." Apple Bloom said as she was running away.

"Wait, Tiara, they're right! What if Prince Spike finds out about this. We'll be in deep trouble." Silver was worried.

"Relax Spoon. Right now, Sweetie Belle is not going anywhere near Spike. She'll fix our problem herself."

"I-I hope so."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ran past several buildings. They looked all around but couldn't find Sweetie Belle anywhere.

"Where's she?"

"She can't be at Carousel Boutique, she ran the opposite way," Scootaloo explained.

"Let's go check Sugarcube corner." Apple Bloom suggested.

After searching every table in the sugar loaded place, they found no sign of Sweetie Belle.

"Hmm, we didn't check the clubhouse," Scootaloo explained.

"Yeah, let's go check."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ran to their clubhouse, hoping to find their friend. 

They passed the apple orchard and soon made it to the clubhouse.

Apple Bloom opened the door to find Sweetie Belle sitting, facing a wall. "Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie Belle was holding a picture of her and Spike. They were both smiling and looked like they were enjoying themselves. 

Tears were rolling down her cheeks. She wiped her eyes, but more tears replaced them. She sniffed as she remembered Diamond Tiara's words.

"Why would Spike want to be with a Stupid, Untalented, Blank Flank Nobody like you?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo trotted up to Sweetie Belle and looked at the photo she was holding.

"What did they do Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked.

She got no response.

"Well, don't worry about it. I'll let Spike know about this right away." 

Sweetie gave a light gasp as she remembered another thing Diamond Tiara said. 

"You don't deserve him, the way you use your relationship."

Scootaloo turned to the door and began to walk out, only to be stopped by Sweetie belle hugging her hind leg.

"Please don't..." Sweetie said softly.

"Sweetie Belle? What's wrong? Why can't I go tell Spike?"

"J-Just please..."

"O-Okay, if you really want it that way."





7:00

It was quiet for the next few hours in the clubhouse. Both of Sweetie's friends were trying to comfort her. 

Apple Bloom was sitting beside a sleeping Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo was pacing around the clubhouse angrily.

"She cried herself to sleep Scoots." Apple Bloom said quietly while stroking her friend's mane.

Scootaloo looked down, worried about her friend.

"This isn't any normal teasing that's been happening. Something bigger happened between Diamond Tiara and Sweetie Belle, and ah'm gonna find out." 

Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom and nodded. "I'm with you."

Suddenly, Apple Jack opened the front door to the clubhouse and stepped in.

"Alright girls, it's getting late, how about we head on-"

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" 

"What in tarnation?"

"Big sis, we need to talk..." Apple Bloom said quietly.





Rarity was enjoying her tea while sitting on her couch when she heard a sudden knock at her door. "Now who could that be?"

Rarity walked over to her front door and opened to see Apple Jack, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo, with a sleeping Sweetie Belle on Apple Jack's back.

"Hello dear, I see you have your hoofs full." Rarity said giggling while taking Sweetie Belle with her magic.

"Rarity, this is more serious than ya think. Can ah have a word with you?"

"Why sure, come in the three of you." Rarity stepped out of the way to let the three in.

"Just give me a minute to take this sleepy head upstairs to her room." Rarity trotted upstairs with Sweetie Belle on her back.

"Alright, let me talk to Rarity about this. Are ya'll sure we should be keeping this from Spike?"

"Sweetie Belle got so scared and begged us not to tell him. I don't know if ah can."

"Well, we'll have to sort this out then."

Just then, Rarity walked back downstairs. 

Apple Jack guided her to the kitchen, away from Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She then told Rarity what Apple Bloom and Scootaloo explained to her.

"They what?!?!" Rarity screamed.

"Rarity, quiet down."

"You wouldn't 'quiet down' if you found out that your little Apple Bloom was being hurt by some ruffians!"

"Apple Bloom's apart of it too. And the only reason I stopped myself from yelling was because your sister had fallen asleep."

Rarity grunted, but then sighed. "Sorry, it's just that hearing about my little sister crying herself asleep was just a shock."

"I understand."

"No pony deserves to fall asleep in that condition. I just pray to Luna that she doesn't have nightmares as well."

"Right."

"Who are these fillies anyway? Who do they think they are?"

"I don't know myself. This is very serious."

"But why is Sweetie so afraid to tell dear Spike. Isn't he her drakefriend?"

"All of this is confusing, but we should get this sorted out tomorrow. It's late, I'm gonna drop off Scootaloo then go home."

"Very well then." Rarity and Apple Jack trotted back to the living room.

"Alright you two, let's get going."

"Is Sweetie Belle gonna be alright?" Scootaloo asked.

"...Ah'm not really sure, we'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"A-Alright, g'bye Rarity."

Apple Bloom and Apple Jack also said their goodbyes and headed out. 

Rarity shut the door and looked up the stairs. "Oh, Sweetie Belle..."
> Decisions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia's sun peered through the windows of Carousel Boutique, trying to get it's way in.

On the second floor, in her bedroom. Sweetie Belle, was sleeping peacefully, her chest moving up and down slowly, contradicting to her soft breathing. 

For a slight moment. The curtains in her room swayed a bit forward, making the sunlight shine on Sweetie's eyes in the process.

When the curtain returned to covering the sun, Sweetie Belle opened her eyes slowly.

Sweetie Belle sat up and looked around. She was a bit weary for a moment but gained focus soon enough. 

"Wha-what happened?" She said quietly while rubbing her eyes.

Sweetie sat for a minute. She yawned then threw her blanket off of herself and trotted to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and continued on downstairs.

Waiting for her in the kitchen was a delicious meal. The smell of toast with daffodils made Sweetie's nose perk up, and she could also smell Rarity's "Divine" tea.

Sweetie looked at the coffee table to see her food, and she looked her left to see Rarity making something.

"Good morning Rarity!" Sweetie said as she sat down.

Rarity turned around and smiled when she saw Sweetie Belle. "Good morning deary, but..." Rarity pointed above Sweetie Belle. 

Sweetie looked behind and above to see the clock that read, 12:07. "Oh..." Sweetie chuckled nervously.

"I heard you in the washroom upstairs and I decided to make you something to eat."

"It smells great Rarity! Thank you!" 

Rarity turned back to grab her tea in her magic and walked over to the coffee table.

"Oh, you're very welcome Sweetie." Rarity gave her a nuzzle on the cheek and proceeded to take a seat on the opposite end of the table.

It was quiet for a while. The only sounds being Rarity's occasional sipping, and Sweetie's eating. Finally, Sweetie Spoke up. "Um, sis?"

Rarity looked up at Sweetie Belle. "Yes, Sweetie?"

"What happened last night? I was at my school... and then..." Sweetie Belle trailed off, trying to think what happened last night. 

"Well, last night, you were in your clubhouse, and your friends and Apple Jack were so kind to bring you here after you dozed off." Rarity explained.

A soft gasp could be heard from Sweetie Belle.

Not hearing Sweetie's gasp, Rarity continued. "Apple Jack and your friends... told me that you, cried yourself to sleep..." 

Sweetie looked down at her food. 

"Is there... anything you want to tell me, Sweetie?" Rarity said with reassuring eyes.

"I-It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"Sweetie Belle, no lady... OR gentlecolt deserves to fall asleep under such circumstances. I just want you to be safe."

"I said it's nothing. I'm fine." Sweetie took another bite from her toast. 

"O-Okay, but... always know that you can tell or ask me anything, alright?"

Sweetie Belle nodded.

"Good... So when are you leaving today?"

"Hm? Huh?"

"Remember? You said that you were going to the library today. To play with Spike." Rarity said.

Sweetie's eyes widened. "O-oh y-yeah. I didn't forget..." Sweetie chuckled nervously. "I'm leaving just now."

"So early?" Rarity came off of her chair and levitated her cup to the sink. 

"Not for Spike, I'm meeting him at five. Just to go... do some... stuff..."

"Oh, alright. Be safe. I'll be upstairs all day working on some dresses if you need me." She then trotted out of the kitchen.

"Okay sis!" Sweetie Belle hopped off her seat and put her dishes in the sink as well. She walked outside and started debating to herself if she should go to Spike or not. 

Meanwhile, Rarity was looking at her sister from an upstairs window. "Oh Sweetie Belle, why is it so hard for you to tell me. I know I can't just force you to tell me. If I only knew what's wrong.





Scootaloo was at the front of the clubhouse. She opened the door to see Apple Bloom. "Hey, Apple Bloom! What's up?"

"Nothin'"

"Still thinking about Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo said as she trotted over to Apple Bloom.

"Stood up for the most of the night thinking about her."

"Same here. I'm worried about her. What did Diamond Tiara say, to get her like that?"

"That's what we need to find out. Then, we can help Sweetie Belle however we can."

"Yeah, how about we go to the Boutique to go see if Sweetie Belle's doing alright?"

"Okay! Let's go!"



 

Sweetie Belle was sitting on the merry-go-round at the public park. There were not a lot of colts and fillies there, but Sweetie wanted to be alone. She wanted nothing more, than to be sure that what Diamond Tiara said, wasn't true. She knew herself, that Spike is not the type to do something that, but the facts that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon gave kept delving into her mind.

In the middle of her thinking, she heard a voice. "Hey, blank flank!"

She looked up in fear to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon themselves.

Tiara and Spoon both laughed at poor Sweetie's horrified expression.

"I never expected you to come out of the dark, after your "cry baby" act yesterday."

"Cr-cry baby?"

"Mhmm,  I don't think Spike would like a cry baby as his fillyfriend. Don't ya think, Silver?"

"He'd be better off with somepony who could actually do something in their life. Like, look at you. No cutie mark; no talent."

Sweetie's eyes shut themselves, as she waited for the next barrage of insults, but they never came. Instead, she heard a familiar, friendly voice.

"Stop that!"

Sweetie turned around to see her two friends. "Apple Bloom? Scootaloo?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stepped in front of Sweetie Belle, blocking Tiara and Spoon. 

"What do you want from her? Leave her alone!" Apple Bloom yelled.

"We won't let you hurt her anymore!" Scootaloo said.

"Oh look, now we have three untalented fillies. Just great!" Tiara said mockingly.

"Just leave!" 

"And if I don't?"

Scootaloo grunted.

The four fillies started yelling at each other for a few minutes, when just then, a voice called out. "Hey! What's going on?"

Apple Jack was nearly at the Boutique, she needed to talk about the issue the day before. They needed to fix this not only for Rarity's sister, but for her sister as well.

Apple Jack arrived and knocked the front door to the Boutique. A couple seconds later, Rarity opened the door. 

"I thought I would hear from you again. (Sigh) This is about last night, isn't it?"

"Yup."

Rarity stepped aside. "Come in."

Apple Jack walked inside and started to pace around. Rarity closed the door and watched her friend.

"We can't just let this go Rarity. Not only your sister, but mine as well, are involved with this. Even that other filly, Scootaloo. We can't just stand by and let this happen. We have to go to their parents, or-or Cheerilee, sumthin!-"

"I know Apple Jack. But as much as I would love to, Sweetie Belle hasn't nor will tell me anything about this. And if I don't know what's going on. HOW am I supposed to help her."

"(Sigh) Ah know what ya mean. Apple Bloom has kept her mouth shut too. And every time I try to talk to her she just changes the subject, or ignores me. I don't want to force her to tell me, but at the same time, I want to help her."

"(Sigh) I just wish there was something we could do!" Rarity whined.

"Hmm, maybe we can't go to Spike about this, but how about Twilight? Ah mean, if Spike was involved with this as well, maybe Twilight knows about it, and she already has the answer."

"Maybe you're right. How about we go to Twilight's and ask?"

"Sure. I'm ready."

"Alright, let me just get some things-"

"Is it clothes?"

"Why yes, it is-"

"No time. Come on."

Rarity gave a Canterlot gasp and followed Apple Jack angrily.





After a couple of minutes of walking through Ponyville. Rarity looked to the right to see the public park. She raised an eyebrow and looked to Apple Jack. "Apple Jack, look."

"What?" Apple Jack looked to the park Rarity was pointing at.

"Doesn't the park seem... empty to you?"

"Sure does. And it's about four PM isn't it?"

"Hmm, odd." 

Rarity and Apple Jack walked for a couple more minutes and finally arrived at the Golden Oaks Library. Apple Jack knocked the door and Twilight opened up.

"Hey, girls. What's happening?"

"Twi, we need to talk." Apple Jack said.

"What happened this time..."

"Can we come in?"

"Yeah sure!" Twilight stepped aside and let Rarity and Apple Jack stepped in. 

"Is uh... Spike here?"

"No, he went out to do something. Probably for his date with Sweetie Belle." Twilight started to giggle. "That's cute."

"Now is not the time for that Twilight." Rarity said. "We need to discuss something."

"Okay, let's sit down."

Apple Jack and Rarity followed Twilight and sat down at their respective seats.

"Okay, explain to me what happened."

"You want ta go first, Rarity? It is your Sister mostly."

Rarity sighed. "If I must. Twilight, apparently last night my sister Sweetie Belle cried herself to sleep, because of some hooligans."

"Oh my gosh! What happened?"

"That's just the problem. Sweetie Belle won't tell me anything. She seems so secretive, and the number one thing she doesn't want right now is Spike to know. I guess she doesn't want Spike to do anything too harsh."

"How about we tell Spike then? She doesn't know that I know, and I doubt Spike will hurt these ponies. Who are these ponies anyways?"

"Ah think it's some fillies." Apple Jack replied. "You know, bullies?"

Twilight scratched her head. "Not that I'm mad or anything, but, why ask me for help?"

"We figured since Spike is somehow involved with this, you would know something."

"Spike never mentioned this... I honestly have no idea what to do than to either tell Spike or force Sweetie Belle to talk. But I know that's what we don't want."

"Well if you get anything, be sure to let us know." Apple Jack said.

Rarity and Apple Jack got up from their seats.

"You got it." Twilight walked them to the door.





"Hey! What's going on?"

Scootaloo, being the only one hearing the voice, looked up. "R-Rainbow Dash?"

Apple Bloom continued arguing with the two bullies as Rainbow landed.

"Heya squirt." Rainbow Dash ruffled Scootaloo's mane. "What's up?"

"Rainbow Dash! You need to help! Those two fillies yelling at back at Apple Bloom are making Sweetie Belle cry!"

Rainbow Dash gasped as she had a flash back of Fluttershy and Gilda being bullied by Dumb-Bell and Hoops.

Sweetie Belle was just sitting quietly on the merry-go-round, looking down.

Rainbow grunted and made her way to the three other fillies.

"Rainbow Dash?" Apple Bloom noticed.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Rainbow Dash. How very nice of you and your jaw to join us." Diamond Tiara said mockingly.

"What?"

"Oh, I know you. The "incredible" Rainbow Dash; fast Pegasis, Element of Loyalty, Scootaloo's idle, wonderbolt wannabe-"

"So you know who I am? That just shows how popular I am."

"That just shows how consistent you are."

"Oh! You did not just go there!"





Apple Jack and Rarity were strolling through the streets of Ponyville when they came across the park once again. This time, however, was more intense than last time.

Rarity gasped when she saw her poor sister sitting on the merry-go-round looking sad. She started to trot over to her.

Apple Jack decided to walk over to Apple Bloom. "Hey sis, what's going on here."

"Apple Jack, those are the two fillies who were hurting Sweetie Belle." Apple Bloom pointed to the mentioned.

"And what's Rainbow doin'?"

"She just showed up and started to talk to them. But I think she's losing it."





"Hello, Sweetie." Rarity cooed. 

Sweetie Belle didn't respond.

Rarity looked to where the others were. "You have some great friends, they'll always be there for you."

"I know." Sweetie Belle said softly.





"You're just another one of those stupid Pegasi, who dream too big. Just admit it, you're NEVER gonna become a Wonderbolt."

"What did you just say to me?!"

"I said to admit; that your lazy flank and yourself will NEVER become a Wonderbolt."

"THAT'S IT! I'M GONNA TEACH YOU A LESSON, COME HERE YOU FU-" 

"COOL IT, Dash. They're just fillies." Apple Jack put a hoof to Rainbow's mouth just in time. "Now, I don't know what's gotten into you two but you must behave. Hear me?"

"Hmph. Apple Jack; pathetic, poor, farm pony. I could just use my money and, POOF! Your business is mine."

Apple Jack gasped. "Respect your elders youngin'."

"Maybe they're right Tiara." Silver Spoon whispered.

"I don't want to argue with fillies like y'all. So we'll be leavin' now."

"I thought you were tough?" 

"If only yer weren't fillies, then I'd teach you a lesson." Apple Jack murmured to herself.

Apple Jack, Apple Bloom, Rainbow, and Scootaloo all started to leave.

"Running away?"

"Why, you!" Rainbow turned around, ready to pounce the filly.

"Dash!" Apple Jack called out.

Rainbow stopped herself and turned back. 

They all continued to walk away from the two bullies, and towards Rarity and Sweetie Belle sitting on the merry-go-round. 

"...I had one of these when I used to go to school. Got hurt once but-"

"Rarity? Ya ready to leave?"

"Uh, yes! Let's go!"

"Wait! I uh, have to meet up with Spike." Sweetie Belle said.

"Oh yes! Go on dear."

Sweetie Belle started to trot away.

"Be back before it get's too dark! Okay?"

"Okay!" Sweetie called back.

"Alright, let's go."

> The Date And A New Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I didn't want to come, but it was the only excuse for me to leave." Sweetie Belle said to herself. She didn't want to be flooded by questions again from Rarity and her friends. She wanted to be alone, but now that she was on her way to Spike's there was no point turning back.

Sweetie Belle approached the Library's front door. She raised her hoof, about to knock, but stopped before doing so. 

"M-maybe I shouldn't..." 

Sweetie started to debate to herself if she should knock or not. 

She stood still for a couple of minutes, then finally decided to knock. "Ohhh, maybe I shouldn't have."

She waited a couple of seconds and then Spike opened the door.

"Hey Sweetie Belle. How's it going?" Spike said happily, as he reached in to hug Sweetie Belle.

"I'm fine, thank you." Sweetie said accepting the hug. 

"Come in!" Spike allowed Sweetie inside.

"Twilight's out right now. She said she wanted to do some errands, but I know she just wanted to leave us two alone for our date." Spike closed the door.

"That was really nice of her." Sweetie looked around.

"Yeah. Anyways, follow me. Come look at what I set up over here!" Spike said excitedly.

Sweetie giggled at his actions. How he ran towards whatever he did, so childlike, energetic. 

"Same old Spike." Sweetie thought to herself. 

Spike may have awakened his true powers, beaten powerful foes, and whatnot. But he's still the same old happy dragon.

Sweetie followed Spike into the kitchen. The lights were off but there was candles around the room.

Spike rubbed the back of his head. "Y-You like it? I thought it would be a little bit... romantic." Spike said sheepishly. 

"It's great Spike. I like it. It is, kinda romantic."

"Ah well, I read some dating guides from the library."

"Sounds more like Rarity's romance novels to me." Sweetie said giggling.

"Well, it does have the name 'Romance Novel', so I guess that's a good thing." Spike said shrugging. "Anyways, come sit down over here."

Spike pointed to a small coffee table that had two seats. Sweetie trotted over, took a seat and waited for Spike's next move.

"Alright, give me one second." Spike zipped to the kitchen counter and brought back two bowls.

"Here's the first dish; Some Caesar Salad, with croutons in your's and gems in mine."  Spike put the bowls down in their respective places.

"Thanks." Sweetie said.

"No problem, dig in!"

Spike and Sweetie Belle ate. None spoke a word.

Sweetie Belle was staring at her food, taking a bite every other minute. She was thinking about what Diamond Tiara said.

"Spike wants to be with you, not because he loves you, because he wants to be closer to Rarity, the one he truly wants most."

Sweetie looked up, to see Spike eating peacefully. 

She decided to try to find out if what Diamond Tiara said was true. "Um, Spike?"

Spike stopped eating and looked up. "Yeah Sweetie?"

"Was there any other pony you wanted to be with, before me?" Sweetie asked.

"Well... I kinda liked your sister, Rarity..."

"If I weren't here, would you still want to be with her?"

"Hm, why do you ask?"

"Just trying to start a conversation, and to be honest, I want to know more about you." Sweetie wasn't lying. She wanted to know more about the drake she loved.

"(Sigh) It was just a stupid crush. I never really thought about it until you came into mind. But I could never get her, no matter how much I tried. She was older than me for one thing."

"Oh, sorry it never worked out between you two..."

"Oh, you don't have to be sorry." Spike stood up and took his bowl. 

He walked to Sweetie's side of the table. "Cause now, I have my favorite little princess to be with." Spike said, planting a kiss on Sweetie Belle's cheek. 

Sweetie blushed at the name. "Favorite Little Princess."

"You done with your salad?"

"Um... kinda."

Spike looked inside her bowl and chuckled. "Well I guess we're not any different considering I mostly ate the gems in my bowl."

Sweetie Belle giggled.

"Alright, you ready for the main course?"

"Sure!"

Spike took her bowl with his magic and went to the kitchen counter.

Sweetie Belle looked at Spike ."Well, at least now I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Spike is not using me to get closer to Rarity." Sweetie Belle thought. "But, am I still worth it to him? Maybe I'm not good enough for him." Sweetie Belle looked at her flank. 

"Spike doesn't want to be with a Stupid, Untalented, Blank Flank Nobody like you."

"I don't even have my Cutie Mark yet. What will the Prince of Equestria look like if he's with a stupid, Cutie Markless, pony." Sweetie gave a mental sigh as she looked back up at her love.

Spike was coming back from the kitchen. He brought two new bowls with him.

Spike set one bowl in front of Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie took a whiff. "What's this Spike?" 

"Alright, in your bowl, you have some of my special soup. Some spicy gravy with sweet potatoes, dumplings, and carrots." Spike said as he reached over, pointing at said ingredients. "I don't really like the dumplings, they get stuck in between my pointy teeth, so I replace them with gems."

Sweetie nodded, understanding.

She proceeded to take a spoonful of gravy with one of the chopped sweet potato. 

"How does it taste?"

"It tastes really good! Thanks, my prince." 

Spike chuckled at her response.

Spike and Sweetie Belle continued to eat happily.





6:30

Sweetie Belle was at the door, getting ready to leave.

"Have a good walk home."

"I will, thanks." 

Sweetie and Spike hugged, Spike giving her a kiss on the cheek in the process.

"Alright, later." Spike said releasing Sweetie Belle.

"Bye Spike!" She gave Spike a peck on the cheek and trotted away.

Spike watched Sweetie walk away for a couple of seconds, and then went back inside to go relax.





Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were both in Diamond's home. They were both trotting down one of the long hallways.

Diamond's home was definitely High-Class, some Canterlot ponies would be jealous of it's beauty. The marble floors, exquisite furniture, dangling chandeliers, wide and tall hallways, violin playing in the background, it's everything a filly would ask for.

"Today was excellent Silver! We made that filly pay." Diamond Tiara smirked to herself.

Silver Spoon looked down to her hoofs. She was fine with bothering other colts and fillies before, especially the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but this time it just didn't feel... the same. And to make it even worse, Diamond Tiara started to argue with their older sisters.

"Um, Diamond?" 

Diamond didn't look back. "Yes Silver?"

"I..."

Diamond Tiara reached the kitchen where two glasses of some high quality beverage, their personal bar tenders made, were waiting. 

Diamond lost her patience. "Come on, spit it out Silver."

Silver made a tiny gulp. "I... Um..." Silver took one sip of her beverage with the straw. It tasted sour and sweet, like candy. She continued. "So, I was thinking, and... I think we should lay off."

Diamond was in the midst of drinking when she heard what Silver said. "Lay off?"

"You know, lay off of Sweetie Belle."

"What?-"

"Just for now!" Silver said quickly.

"Why? We have Sweetie Belle right where we want her." Diamond began to take another sip of her drink.

"What I'm trying to say is, now we have their older sisters in this. They are older than us."

"We took care of them, didn't you see Rainbow Dash's face." Diamond started to chuckle, then went back

"Yeah we did, but how much longer until Prince Spike comes. Are you going to talk like that to him too?"

"Hmph, yeah right, after what we said to Sweetie Belle, she wont even want to go near him again. Then soon enough, they'll break up." Diamond Tiara said mockingly.

"Wait, what? I thought we were only gonna tease Sweetie Belle. Not get them to break up."

"Damnit, I slipped." Diamond thought to herself. "I... Thought you knew."

Silvers eyes widened. "This was your plan the whole time; to break them up."

"Well yes, duh."

"So that's why this feels so wrong."

"What are you talking about? This is the same thing we always do to the Cutie Markless."

"No, it's not Diamond!" Silver got out of her seat. "We would always do harmless things like tease, or argue with them. But this, we can't just ruin their relationship!"

Diamond also got out her seat. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that I don't want to be any part of this Diamond!"

"Are you abandoning me? For them?"

"I'm not siding with anypony. And after being with you for all this time, I doubt that anypony would want me on their side."

"C-Come on Silver cut the act."

"I'm not acting. I'm done." Silver turned around.

"Done? No, you were in this in the beginning, your not walking away early."

"I was in, until I knew what your TRUE intentions were!"

"No, I can't do this alone! Who do you expect to back me up?"

"You were doing this alone! I was just watching some poor filly getting made fun of, on the verge of tears."

"You!-"

"You just want me around, so you wont feel lonely, cause your parents aren't ever around!"

Diamond gasped. She soon turned angry and gritted her teeth. She then quickly pushed Silver violently from behind. 

Silver got pushed into the wall with a hard hit. She groaned painfully.

Diamond gasped and looked around frantically for any possible spectators of her little outbreak. When she saw no pony, she looked back at Silver who was getting up weakly.

Diamond looked a little closer and saw that her left fore hoof was bruised, and her glasses were slightly cracked.

Silver looked at Diamond with teary eyes. "Why?"

Diamond's mouth stood open a tad.

"I thought we were friends?"

"W-We are friends-"

"Friends don't hurt one another!" 

Diamond was taken aback.

"I thought you were better than this Diamond. Before, we would do harmless bullying. But now, your breaking relationships, hurting ponies, and most of all..."

Diamond was speechless at Silver's next words.

"...you lost your best friend..."

Silver turned and started to walk away. Slightly limping because of her injury.

Diamond watched, as her only friend, walked away on her.

"I-I-I... I don't need her. The plan will just continue. Because no pony, is more popular than me, in school." Diamond shut her eyes and waved her hoof away.





It was raining.

Silver was sitting at the park bench. Her mane was getting wet, but she didn't care.

She was looking back at earlier today, when Diamond was scolding Sweetie Belle.

Just then, Silver shook her head, trying to get those thoughts out of her head.

"What's wrong?"

Silver got startled, she quickly looked back to see none other than Sweetie Belle. "O-Oh, i-it's just you Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie was holding an umbrella. She sat down next to Silver and covered them both under it. "You're gonna get cold if you stay out like this."

"Yeah..."

"I was just on my way back home, but then it started to rain. When I was about to pass Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie gave me this umbrella. Isn't it so nice of her?"

"Mhmm..."

"Why are your glasses broken?"

"It's a long story."

"I'll walk you home if you want, I don't think Rarity will mind too much if I'm a bit late."

"...Why, why are you talking to me like that?"

"Hm? Like what? Is it something I said?" Sweetie squeaked.

"No, it's just that... me and Diamond did so much bad things to you. Not only today, for a long time now we've made you and your friends feel bad."

"Oh, that. Well, I can't just leave you here. That's just a bad thing to do."

"B-But, you know that if Diamond and me were in your position, we would just laugh at you."

"Maybe... But it's just the good thing to do. You feel nice when you do something good, you should try it one day too!" Sweetie giggled.

Silver smiled slightly. "I-I just want to say sorry, for EVERYTHING. Not just today, not this week, everything. From the first day we met at Diamond's party. I-I'm sorry."

Sweetie was taken aback from what Silver said so suddenly.

"I...I accept your apology."

"Oh, and do your best with Spike. He loves you, and there's no way he's using you, like we said from before." 

"Thanks. And um, I kinda figured the 'using' part already."

"I'll be sure to apologize to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo too."

"Yeah! And then we can all be friends!" Sweetie beamed.

Silver smiled at Sweetie Belle.

"Wait? What about Diamond Tiara? Is she gonna say sorry too?" Sweetie asked.

"Um, I don't think so..."

"What exactly happened?"

Silver was debating if she should trust Sweetie Belle with this small bit of information. "Wait, this is the same filly who helped the pony who hurt her, of course I could trust her!" Silver thought.

Silver turned to Sweetie Belle and explained what happened after they left the park earlier today.

When she finished, Sweetie had pity for Silver. "Awww, I'm sorry Silver, I-I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. It's okay. Actually, it was better to talk it out..."

Sweetie Belle decided to finish the sentence for her. "...with a friend."

Silver looked at Sweetie surprised. "R-Really?"

"Of course!" 

"Wow, I thought you all would hate me for all the things I've done."

"We can push that aside, that's the past. Let's focus on the future."

"Inspirational words, from Sweetie Belle!" 

Silver and Sweetie started to laugh together.

Silver continued to laugh as Sweetie inspected Silver. That's when she saw her left fore hoof.

Sweetie gasped. "Silver!"

"What?!"

"You're hurt!"

Silver lifted her hoof and revealed the bruise. "Oh... yeah, forgot about that- ow!"

"It's red! Come on, Ponyville Hospital is not too far from here, let's go!" Sweetie supported Silver on her shoulder and used her magic to carry the umbrella. Silver wrapped her left fore hoof around Sweetie's neck.

"You're great at using magic Sweetie!"

"Spike's been teaching me, but I've been getting these sparks every once in a while. Spike says it's more of my magic I can use, I don't know how to use it, I don't know how much, but come on! We just have get to the hospital!"

"Alright, and Sweetie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."





Sweetie Belle waited patiently outside the hospital door on a bench. She was worried for her new and improved friend.

Sweetie Belle brought Silver Spoon to the hospital in the matter of minutes. The doctors took her into the emergency room, just in case of anything serious. Thankfully, nothing was too serious.

Two earth ponies, one a blue stallion, and the other a pink mare, walked out of the room and headed in their own direction.

Sweetie Belle was about to stop them and ask about Silver, when a black Unicorn stallion came out of the room seconds later.

Sweetie Belle quickly got off the bench and zipped to the stallion. "Is she gonna be alright?"

The doctor gave a warming smile. "Oh, don't worry about your friend. She will be, just fine. It's just a broken hoof, we used a healing spell to help her recover faster. Probably by tomorrow afternoon she should be able to walk."

Sweetie relaxed after hearing that.

"You may go see her if you'd like."

"Thanks."

The doctor started to walk after the other doctors, and Sweetie Belle pushed the door open.

She walked inside and saw Silver lying down on one of the beds.

"Hey Sweetie, the doctors said I'm gonna be alright!"

"Mhmm, how's your hoof feeling?"

"Feeling better than before." She showed her hoof which had bandages wrapped around it.

Sweetie looked to the right of Silver and saw her glasses. "Your glasses are broken."

"Oh, that's alright. With the money I have, it's no problem... I sounded rude there, didn't I?"

"No, you were telling the honest truth, which is never a bad thing. It would be bad if you boast about it."

"Okay, good."

"You didn't tell me the full story, did you? You never mentioned why, or how you broke your hoof."

Silver looked down, a bit of tears started to form.

"Oh! It's okay if you don't want to tell me! I'm not forcing you." Feeling a bit guilty.

"No it's alright, I think it would be best if I told you. But... you have to PROMISE me you wont tell anypony about this. Especially Diamond Tiara."

"I... I promise."

"Okay, well... I have to start with explaining why Diamond is so hurtful to most ponies. You see, she may have a big house, lots of toys, amazing food, and A LOT of money, but, the thing she wants most, is none of those things..."

"What does she want most?"

"She wants... love."

"Love? Like me and Spike?"

"No, more like, you and Rarity. You see, since Diamond's parents are rich, and they have butlers, and servants, and stuff. They don't pay that much attention to Diamond Tiara, and she hates that. She sees everypony happy with their families, and she gets jealous."

"I can understand that. I don't know what I'd do without Rarity, or my parents."

Silver nodded as she continued. "She likes to pick on you all, not because she's a terrible pony, but because she's jealous. And she does the things she does because it takes her mind away from the loneliness."

"Wow, I didn't know Diamond had that side to her..."

"Everypony has that side to them. Anyways, my family leaves me alone too, but not as much as Tiara. I met Tiara when our family went to a party in Canterlot. We talked, found out that we were the same age, and we both lived in Ponyville, had rich families... So... we became friends, best friends."

"She told me about her loneliness when we both knew each other for a good amount of time. And I..."

"You, what?"

"I... promised her, that I'll never leave her alone."

"Oh..."

"I-I had to break the promise! Even though she had good reasons, it wasn't right to do the stuff she wanted."

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, back to what I was saying, when we were kinda arguing at Diamond's home, I mentioned her excuse of having no love. S-She snapped and pushed me. That's when I broke my hoof. I know it wasn't intentional, she just lost it. I know because I've never seen her physically hurt somepony before, even if she does bad things."

"I-I think I understand. I'm still mad a little bit, but now that I know it'll be easier."

"Yeah."

"So tomorrow, since your hoof will be healed, you want us to meet up with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?!? I think they would love to have you around!"

"S-Sure. You think they will mind?"

"Of course not, they are the most friendly ponies I know!"

"Okay, thanks... You really are sweet Sweetie Belle. I was an idiot to act the way I did."

"Hey! Remember what I said? Don't look back at the past, look into the future!"

"Y-Yeah! I remember!"

"Well, we'll start our new future tomorrow, it's getting kinda late. So-"

"Spoonsy!"

A couple, one blue coated, earth Stallion with a grey mane and tail, and a grey coated, earth mare with a white mane and tail, with blue glasses, stood at the door.

These were undoubtedly Silver's parents, Sweetie Belle thought.

The pair rushed past Sweetie and to Silver, checking if she was alright.

"We were so worried! The hospital called and said that you got hurt! We came as soon as possible." Her father said, with a deep but kind voice.

"What happened deary?" Her mother asked, her soothing voice comparable to Celestia's.

"Well, I kinda hit a wall very hard. It's a long story."

"Well, thank Celestia you didn't get too injured. We're happy you're alright." The stallion said.

"Everything's fine daddy. My... friend, brought me here as soon as she noticed I was hurt. She would have carried me if she had to."

The couple turned and faced little Sweetie Belle.

"Thank you, thank you so much for helping our little tea spoon."

"I-It was no trouble." Sweetie said blushing.

"Why, if you hadn't of come along, our deary would be in much more of a struggle." The mother said.

"Here, as our gratitude, take this." The stallion gave Sweetie Belle a brown bag. "There's about three-hundred bits in there, it's all we have on us at the moment. Sorry if it's not much."

Not much? Not much!?! Any normal filly would dream of having this much money. "I... I can't take this."

"It's alright, really. You deserve it. Besides, we have much more elsewhere."

"Well um... thanks!"

"No problem. We'd like to let you know that you'll always be welcome in the family... wait... wait I recognize you!" The mother said.

"Huh?"

"Darling! That is Prince Spike's fillyfriend!"

"What, are you serious? Why... yes it is!" the stallion realized as he inspected Sweetie for a brief moment.

"Oh... Um... You aren't gonna ask to meet him, are you?"

The pair chuckled. "Oh, no. As the higher ups, we know how much you suffer like that. You're lucky you don't get reporters every now and then, or do you?"

"No." Sweetie Belle remembered when she and her friends got their classmates to see Twilight. She giggled to herself.

"Well anyways, how about you'd be getting on home now. I think your family would be worried sick at this hour."

"Yeah, I should get going... Bye Silver!"

"Bye Sweetie Belle!" Silver thought it was nice, that somepony other than Diamond Tiara, called her by one name.

She thought for a while, and finally realized. 

She would make a lot more friends.
> Nightmare For The Gem Or The Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diamond Tiara woke up, and sat up quickly. 

She was shaking, did she have a nightmare?

She scanned around, her room was dark. She looked at her clock on the nightstand that read 4:00.

She sighed. "It was just a dream."

She rubbed her throat a little. "Maybe I should go get something to drink."

Diamond Tiara got out of her bed and trotted out her room.

The butlers were at their own households, so Diamond had to get a glass of water herself. Something she didn't do often.

As she approached the kitchen, she heard some giggles coming from the other room.

Curious, Diamond peeked into the room where she saw her parents.

"Mom? Dad?"

The two turned to see their daughter. 

"What are you doing up? Go on back to bed." Her father said.

"Yes, what are you doing up?" Her mother asked.

"I was uh, getting some water. I had a scary dream."

"Yes yes, let us get back to our money." The two turned back around.

Diamond Tiara gasped at her father's words. 

Her dad turned around yet again. "Didn't you hear me? I said I want some time with my money!"

"A-are you... saying you'd rather be with some pieces of paper and metal than your own daughter?" Diamond asked weakly.

""Some pieces"?! These are worth more than anything! More than you!"

Diamond looked down in sadness. She always stayed strong, but her parents were the only ones who truly knocked her down.

"I thought your father told you to go!" Her mother yelled.

"I..."

"If your not going to leave, then how about we force you!"

Diamond Tiara's father and mother both got up from there seats, and started to walk up to Diamond Tiara.

Diamond decided on her only option. Run!

She ran. She ran as fast as she could. She ran up the stairs and into her own room.

She shut the door and hid behind her bed.

Soon enough, the door slammed open.

Diamond shrieked. "Why? I left just like you said. You can go back to the living room with your money."

"What's the point?!" Her mom asked angrily. "If your going to be a nuisance, then you should learn a lesson or two."

As her parents slowly approached her, Diamond was thinking about a plan to escape. Beg? Apologize? Fight back? No. Neither of those would work. She decided to do the unpredictable. She ran straight towards her parents.

Caught off guard, her parents didn't react in time to catch her, and the darkness of the night didn't help.

Diamond ran through the hallway. It was too dark to see where she was going, so she just picked the second door to the right.

When her eyes focused a bit. She saw that she was in her parents room.

But to Tiara's unfortunate, her parents slammed through the door yet again.

"By running away is just making this worse. And even worse, you come into our room, where our stash of money is!"

Diamond recognized the voice of her father, filled with rage.

She heard the two sets of hoofsteps come closer, and closer, and closer, until...

A big white flash in the air appeared. 

Diamond heard a booming voice. "Begone!"

When the flash resided, Diamond didn't see the place around her as her house, but a dark void.

She looked up to see Princess Luna. "Princess Luna?"

Luna flew down gently, landing in front of Diamond Tiara.

"Hello, little one." She said kindly.

"So this was all just a dream?"

Luna nodded. 

"Oh, good. Just a stupid random dream."

"Do you think it was a random dream?" Luna asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Some dreams do occur randomly, yes. But some occur for a specific reason. Love, hatred, hope, anxiety, ... and even fear."

Diamond gulped.

"In your dream, your parents were about to attack you. Do you think they'd ever really do that?"

"No... I-It just seemed so real. I know they would never do such a thing."

Luna bent down and lifted Tiara's chin up, forcing her to look at Luna. "You can tell me what's wrong, young filly. You know you can trust me." 

Diamond sighed. "I-... You're the second pony I'm telling this to, so please, keep this a secret."

Luna nodded.

"Well, my parents, they... love money. Like, REALLY love money. Sometimes they think about money more than me. Sometimes I think they love the money more than me. And I'm scared. I'm scared that I'll be unloved forever."

"I see all the families in Ponyville, and I want what they have, love."

"...I can relate to that. Long ago, when I felt lonely because ponies slept through my night and stayed up during my sister's day. I was foolish then."

"We... That's not the same thing."

"What are you trying to say?"

"You had your sister, your family who loved you. I don't."

Luna stayed silent.

"It's not the same thing, because YOU were jealous of your sister and her day. YOU wanted to let ponies live in the night. YOU were foolish, which caused your loneliness."

Luna was taken aback from Diamond Tiara's sudden burst of anger.

"Didn't you stop to think that ponies needed the day? The day had the sun which kept Equestria from freezing, it had its energy to help us grow food, to help us SURVIVE! Your night, was perfect for us to rest, where we were tired, and had busy days, it was dark enough to let us sleep! But, YOU were so blinded by your stupid jealousy, that you foolishly tried to cast us in eternal night, which would lead to our doom, and where you would be lonely once again."

Luna was speechless.

"YOU caused your own loneliness, but you still had love from your sister. I was born with loneliness, AND no love. So don't EVER say that you can relate to me!"

"...Such harsh words from a filly, when I was just here to help..."

"I don't need... your help!"

"...Very well." Luna's horn shinned brightly, and she started to rise up into the air. "If you do not want my help, so be it. But do not DARE, come crying to me, when you can't resolve your problems!"

A bright flash escaped Luna's horn, Diamond had to cover her eyes from the bright light.





Diamond Tiara woke up and gasped. She breathed heavily and looked around, sweat dripping from her forehead.

She noticed is wasn't as dark as the so called 'nightmare'. She glanced at her clock and saw that it was  9:00.

She soon calmed down. "Well, today's the day before school. Time to make some fillies pay!"





"She is out of control!" Rainbow said angrily, as she flew around the room randomly.

The Mane 6 were in the Golden Oaks Library. After Sweetie Belle left the hospital last night, Rarity had asked what took her so long. Sweetie wasn't specific, she told her that Diamond Tiara put Silver Spoon in the hospital. 

Rarity was furious, she gathered Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash, and took them to Twilight's to come up with a plan. They had to come up with a plan to put Diamond Tiara in her place.

"Oh, come on. Are you three really that serious? All this, just from a filly?" Twilight said.

"Oh-ho-ho, this is serious." Rainbow said.

"Alright, maybe Rainbow is actin' a bit over dramatic, but she is troublesome." Apple jack said.

"Perhaps, you should calm down a tad Rainbow." Rarity said.

"Urg! Alright..." Rainbow flew down and sat next to Twilight.

"Alright, so can you explain what happened again? ...in lesser detail." Twilight asked.

"Well, firstly this filly made poor Sweetie Belle cry..." Rarity answered.

"...and she also disrespected us... a lot..." Apple Jack said.

"She said I'll never become a Wonderbolt!" Rainbow added.

"...and she physically hurt her best friend." Rarity finished.

"So, she's very disrespectful. You girls are getting clouded by your anger."

Twilight put a hoof to her chin. "I've seen this before... in stories. Something is causing her to do these things."

"Like, magic?" Rarity asked.

"No, something that happens to her in life that makes her like this." Twilight got up. "I bet if I talk with her I'll understand better."





Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were going around Ponyville, in search for a specific filly.

"I'm telling you Fluttershy! This is the most grumpiest filly you'll ever encounter! And now it's our job to make her happy!" Pinkie said happily, as she bounced beside Fluttershy.

"Um... Do we have to do this? Isn't she really mean?"

"Well duh! She's grumpy! That's why she's a meany pants!" Pinkie answered.

"How do you know what she, or he, looks like? You just know that there's a grumpy foal around because of your pinkie sense, but that doesn't tell you who."

"It was the most powerful sense I got! I'll know who when I see who." Pinkie replied.

They walked, and walked, and bounced. 

Until...

"Found it!" Pinkie zipped over to Tiara, who was sitting at a table in front of a restaurant.

"Hey there!" Pinkie said with a big smile.

Tiara looked at Pinkie, then recognized her and the one behind as bearers of the Elements. "Ugh! You just keep on popping out!"

"Hm? Popping out? I don't think I popped out on you recently."

Tiara face-hoofed. "Can you just leave please?! I'm not in the mood for any more of this!"

"Oh, no worries! I'm just here to help out with your grumpiness!" Pinkie then pulled out a party horn and blew into Tiara's face.

Tiara was getting frustrated.

Pinkie began to sing. "My name is Pinkie Pie (Hello!), And I am here to say (How ya doin?), I'm gonna make you smile and I Will brighten up your day It doesn't matter now (What's up?), If you are sad or blue (Howdy!), Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do..."

As Pinkie bounced around singing her smile song, Fluttershy approached Tiara. "Um... hello." She said shyly. 

"You're like, the only sensible one in your group. Sure, you're really sensitive and all, but you're still alright." 

Fluttershy took a seat in front of Tiara. "Thank's for being so honest."

Tiara sighed. "Don't mention it."

"Um... Pinkie told me that you were very uhh... upset. You can talk to me if you'd like."

"No I'm fine. I don't think you could help even if I told you..."

"Oh... Sorry..."

"It's okay. I just gotta live with it."

"Well, I'm not going to force you to tell me, but if you need anything just come over to my cottage. You know where I live."

"Mhm."

"I think Pinkie should be done singing in about... now."

"So! Are you feeling better?" Pinkie saw Tiara's frown. 

Pinkie was shocked. "B-But, that's my smile song! How did it not work! And on a filly of all ponies!"

"How about we leave now Pink-"

"Hey! How dare you!"

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie looked behind themselves and saw Apple Jack holding back Rainbow.

"So now you're after Fluttershy huh?!"

"Rainbow! Calm down! Let Twilight handle this..." Apple Jack said.

Diamond Tiara gritted her teeth as Twilight trotted over. 

"Hello there!"

"Hi..." She murmured.

"I heard you were a bit... mean, to my friends. May I ask what's wrong?"

"It's none of your business!"

"Look, I know there are some things that can make you angry, but you can't take it out on other ponies. It's wrong."

"What's your deal? I said it was none of your business! Now leave me alone!" Diamond got out of her chair and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Twilight ran to Tiara's side. Walking beside her at the same pace.

"You are hurting others because of something bothering you. As princess, it is my duty to see it that ALL ponies are safe and happy."

Tiara stopped, and looked at Twilight. "Hmph! By reading? Give me a break. All you do is stick your head in books all day. I wouldn't be surprised if your assumption of something bothering me, came from books."

"I-It did come from books, but that doesn't mean that-"

"That's also one of the reasons why you abused Spike. You were too into books and you treated Spike as your slave!"

Twilight's mouth started quivering.

"You know what's worse? Celestia even knew that you were too into books. She sent you to find some friends. If it hadn't been for her, you wouldn't even have a life!" 

That did it. Twilight quivered some more, and then she started to rain tears.

"How dare you!" Rarity yelled.

She trotted over Tiara. "My friends, sister, and your best friend!"

"Don't even get started with me, terrible costume designer. You aren't even worth my time."

""Terrible costume designer?""

"There are One Bit shops that sell better than you!"

Rarity gasped.

Pinkie pulled out Rarity's drama couch and placed it behind her.

Rarity fell on her couch. "Weep. Weep. Weep."





The Mane 6 were back at the Library.

Fluttershy was consoling Twilight.

Rarity was pacing around the room angrily.

Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were sitting quietly, frustrated as well.

And Pinkie was bouncing around, mimicking Rarity.

The front door opened, and three fillies stood there.

"Alright... Maybe now it's time to tell Spike." Apple Bloom suggested. 
> No Choice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The CMC trotted up the stairs, stopping in front of Spike's and Twilight's room.

"Ya certain he's in there?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Should be." Scootaloo Replied.

"A-Are you sure?" Sweetie asked.

"Why are you so scared to tell him Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, he's your drakefriend and all."

Sweetie didn't respond.

"What happened Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked. "You can tell us, we're your friends."

"I, um..." *Spark* "Ow." Sweetie rubbed her horn.

"You really need Spike or Twilight to help you with that. Anyways, tell us!" Scootaloo demanded.

"...Okay... Well, ever since Diamond Tiara and Silv- started to tease me. She always told me that Spike never truly loved me." Sweetie looked down in sadness.

"I know that would never happen! It's just, Diamond would tell me that Spike was using me to get closer to Rarity, that I'm not good enough for him, that I was even using him."

"She said it like she was stating facts, she said it so confidently, to the point where I started to believe it too..."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other, with worried looks on their faces.

Sweetie took a deep breath. "Okay, I think I'm ready."

"Y-Ya sure?" Apple Bloom put a hoof to Sweetie's shoulder.

"Yeah."

"Alright, me and Bloom will let you tell him. We'll be right outside."

Sweetie nodded and pushed the door open.

Sweetie stepped into the room and looked to see Spike facing the nightstand.

Spike turned around and blinked. "Oh hey Sweets!"

Spike walked up to Sweetie Belle and gave her a peck on the cheek. "How's my princess doing?"

Sweetie Belle blushed and smiled. "I-I'm doing great."

"So, what's up?"

"I... need to talk to you."

"Okay, about what?"

Sweetie took another deep breath. "Are you... Are you using me to get... closer to... Rarity?"

Spike stared for a second then started to burst out laughing. "You sounded so worried, then you ask me that?! That was a good one Sweetie Belle. Good acting." Spike laughed for a couple of seconds then looked at Sweetie once again. 

He looked at her, not hinting any kind of laughter. "Y-You weren't joking?"

Sweetie Belle nodded. "You see, some- one filly keeps teasing me. Telling me that I'm not good enough for you."

Spike was at full attention.

"She also said that you were using me. To get closer to Rarity." Tears started to well up in her eyes. "A-And she said that, I was using you! To get more popular."

Spike got up and made his way towards Sweetie.

"She also said that-"

"Shhh" Spike said as he embraced her. "It's okay."

Sweetie cried in Spike's shoulder, sobbing loudly. "I-I'm sorry Spike."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed."

"You shouldn't be sorry. I'm supposed to be your fillyfriend. Yet I'm here believing the worst from you."

"This could've happened to any pony."

Sweetie continued to sob in Spike's shoulder, and Spike let her. She let out all the sadness residing in her.

After some time went, Spike gently pushed Sweetie off of him and made them face to face. "I love you. You love me. We both know that."

Sweetie nodded.

"Are you gonna be okay?"

"Y-Yeah... Now that I talked with you."

The two sat for a couple minutes, until Spike broke the silence.

"So, who is this filly?"

"She's in my class. She's a filly who bullies other ponies, including Apple Bloom and Scootaloo."

"She has to have a reason to hurt others."

"How do you know that?" Sweetie asked.

"It's just how life is. I can even bet Armak had a reason for his actions, other than evil."

Sweetie nodded.

"Do you know anything about why she does these things?"

"I... promised to keep that part a secret."

"Oh, alright. Can I meet her?"

Sweetie bolted up. "You're not gonna hurt her, are you?!"

Spike chuckled. "No, of course not. I just want to talk to her."

Sweetie calmed down. "Oh, okay."

Spike got up and held out a claw to Sweetie. "Shall we go my princess?"

Sweetie giggled. "We must." She said, playing along.

Sweetie reached out, allowing Spike to grab, and pull her up.





Apple Bloom was seated down and Scootaloo paced back and forth.

"They sure are taking a long time in there." Apple Bloom said.

"Should we go check and see if everything's alright?" Scootaloo asked.

"No, give them time... Wait! I think I hear them coming now."

As on cue, the door opened, and Spike and Sweetie Belle walked out.

"Hey girls!" Spike waved a claw.

"Hey Spike." Bloom and Scoots said simultaneously.

Spike walked past the two.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle.

"So, what happened?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I told Spike about Diamond Tiara."

"What's he gonna do now?"

"He said he's going to talk to her about it."

"Well, good. Did you talk to him about what she said?"

"Mhm."

"Okay."

Spike leaned over the railing at the top of the stairs and saw six mares looking depressed.

Spike face-palmed. "This is just pathetic!" Sweetie told Spike before, about what had happened between the Mane 6 and Diamond.

Spike and the CMC walked past the Mane 6. Though they didn't try at all to be sneaky, the Mane 6 did not notice them.





Diamond Tiara walked angrily through the public park.

"Stupid Ponies!" She ranted. "Stupid Luna!" She kicked a twig on the ground fiercely. "Stupid Sweetie Belle!"

"...Hey there!"

Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. "Why does everypony have to bother m-" She stopped ranting when she turned and saw Spike standing there with his arms crossed, and a grin on his face.

"P-P-Prince Spike?!?!" Diamond was terrified. Why was she scared? She bad-mouthed The Elements, their sisters, and even Princess Luna. She didn't show any fear then. Why now?

"Please, just call me Spike." Spike started to make his way towards Diamond Tiara.

"I-I-I-I-I..."

Spike stopped a few inches in front of her. "So... What's your name?" 

"D-Diamond Tiara."

"Well Diamond, I heard some things. And do you mind if we talk?"

Diamond was about to beg for mercy, but stopped. "Y-Yeah, sure."

Spike sighed. "Everything that happens, has a reason... Well, except for Pinkie Pie, but, you know what I mean."

Diamond nodded.

"So, I would like to hear the reason why you pick on other ponies. The true reason." Spike said calmly.

Diamond started sweating. "I don't know what to tell him! What if he doesn't believe me!" Diamond thought to herself. 

"I... don't know."

Spike noticed Diamond looking frightened. "Look, I know the true reason isn't that you're evil, or anything like that. I don't even think Princess Celestia met any foal like that. You can tell me if there's something wrong, and I'll believe you."

"P-Promise you won't tell any pony?"

"Sure."

"A-Alright..." Diamond began to explain her actions. 

She went more in-depth than with Luna, with Spike nodding every now and then in understanding. Tiara slipped a few tears here and there, but soon enough, she finished.

"I can understand... how you feel unloved. It was the same with me and Twilight, but fortunately we resolved our issue."

"L-Luna said the same thing, in my dreams. But I yelled at her. I was so stupid, now she hates me."

"Heh, Luna's not the type to hold a grudge. Especially against a filly."

"Do you think she would forgive me then?"

"Of course."

"That's good."

Spike put a claw to Diamonds shoulder. "You can talk to your parents. If they truly love you, and I know they do, they will understand. And hopefully everything will be fine."

"B-But I'm scared to talk to them. What if they shove me away? Saying that I'm nothing compared to their money."

Spike chuckled and took his claw off of her shoulder. "I assure you, no parent would EVER do that." Spike pointed his thumb at himself. "And if anything's wrong, come to me. Alright?"

Diamond nodded. "I'm sorry."

"It's not me you have to be sorry to."

"Yeah."

Spike turned around. 

A second later, Sweetie Belle and the other two came out from behind a bush.

"They didn't hear your story, but I think they'll still forgive you." Spike whispered reassuringly. 

The three CMC stepped in front of Diamond Tiara.

Diamond looked down in shame. "I'm sorry you three. Especially Sweetie Belle. I shouldn't have done the things I did. C-Can we start over?"

They stared for a second then smiled. "Of course! We'd love to have a new friend!" Apple Bloom said kindly.

"Yeah, the more the merrier." Scootaloo said.

"Sweetie Belle?" Diamond asked Sweetie.

Sweetie trotted over to Diamond with a blank expression. She blinked then smiled. "I forgive you."

Diamond smiled and immediately gasped for air as she was in a bone-crushing hug with three fillies.

When they let go Diamond stepped back a little. "I still have to apologize to your sister and her friends." Diamond said to Spike.

Spike nodded. "Let's go to the library then."





Spike opened the door to the library. He saw the six mares standing, Twilight recollecting herself.

"Hey girls."

They all responded with a "hello", except for Twilight who just waved while smiling.

"There's somepony who wants to speak with you all. I HOPE you let her talk."

All six nodded.

Spike moved to the side to reveal Diamond Tiara, with the CMC not far behind her.

The Mane 6 gasped.

"H-Hi everypony. I wanted to apologize for what happened throughout this weekend. You'll probably not forgive me, but... I want to start over. Both with you and your sisters."

The Mane 6 were silent, until Apple Jack spoke up. "Well... You went as far as reminded both us and Twilight about us abusing Spike."

Twilight's eye twitched.

"Oh no, you pushed the wrong Twilight button!" Spike said.

Tears started to appear in Twilight's eyes.

Spike quickly teleported behind Twilight and tapped her in the neck lightly.

Twilight fell to the ground, and started snoring peacefully.

Every pony in the room looked at Twilight, worried.

"Don't worry, she's fine. Oh, and she forgives you." Spike said to Tiara.

Fluttershy turned back to Diamond Tiara. "Um... You don't have to be sorry." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah! You didn't do anything wrong!" Pinkie said while bouncing around Diamond.

"Well... I'm mostly apologizing to you three." Diamond said pointing to Rainbow, Apple Jack, and Rarity.

The three mentioned stayed silent.

"Look, I know you can't forgive me right away, but I just wanted to make sure we're on good terms."

"I... I guess I can give you a second chance." Rainbow said scratching the back of her head while smiling.

"If Discord changed, ah don't see why you can't." Apple Jack said.

"I-I think I'll forgive you, but if any of this happens again, you can expect no more from me." Rarity said.

"Thank you, I understand if it takes time for you, but I'll do my best to earn your complete trust." Diamond Tiara said.

Diamond Tiara soon sighed of relief. "Now I said sorry to everypony. At least that's out of the way."

"Not... everypony." Sweetie Belle indicated.

"...Oh! Princess Luna!"

Sweetie shook her head. "Not her either."

Diamond thought for a second, then her eyes widened. "Silver Spoon! Where is she!? I have to find her!"

"She's at the Ponyville hospital, Room 301." Sweetie answered.

"Okay, thanks! I'll see you all later!" Diamond started to make her way to the hospital.

"Bye!" The CMC said one after another.

The Mane 6 and Spike waved.

Diamond Tiara exited the library and began to run towards Ponyville's hospital.





Tiara opened the door to Silver's room. She saw Silver in her bed at end of the room to the right.

"Silver?"

Silver looked at Diamond Tiara, grew an angry face, then looked away.

"Hey-" Diamond was cut off.

"I don't want to talk to you!" Silver said while still looking away.

"Okay, fair enough. But please let me say what I have to say. Then I'll leave."

Silver thought for a second. She turned and faced Tiara and nodded. "Fine."

"Okay..." 

Diamond started to explain what happened since their 'incident'. She talked from her nightmare, to her apology towards the CMC and Mane 6.

When Diamond was done, Silver had an understanding expression. 

"T-That's all. And, I wanted to say, that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you."

"No, I pushed your buttons. I shouldn't have mentioned your... parents."

"No, I should've controlled myself. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Tiara, I knew you for a long time. Heck, I know you more than your own parents. And I know when you really mean something." 

Diamond looked down in shame.

"And... you really mean it."

Her head shot up. "You're really going to forgive me? After I hurt you?"

"Everypony makes mistakes. Some more than others." Silver smiled at Tiara.

"Thanks. You really are my bestie." Diamond dragged a stool over beside Silver's bed. She then proceeded to hop onto it.

"We'll both start over. As the best ponies we can be. Right?" Tiara asked.

"Of course. I would love that."

Diamond Tiara quickly reached over and tightly hugged Silver Spoon. "I missed you."

"...I missed you too." Silver said as she stroked Tiara's mane.

The two sat there. Talking, laughing, playing. Until Silver soon got released out of the hospital.

They looked forward to the start of their new future. 

A better future.


Next Time On Season Spike


Princess Cadence sends a letter to Spike, asking for some assistance. Spike soon arrives at the Crystal Empire, and it seems Cadence invited another guest.

> [Episode 4: Crystals] Mystery
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Prince Spike,

I would like to invite you to the Crystal Empire, and I request for some of your aid. Please bring no other pony with you, this is a special matter. I know this is short notice, but you are requested immediately. All will be explained when you arrive.

Your beloved,

Princess Cadence

Spike raised an eyebrow at the letter. "That was a short letter." He said bluntly.

"Yeah, a bit suspicious if you ask me." Twilight said, standing behind Spike while gazing at the letter.

Spike shrugged. "Well, duty calls. I guess I have to go." Spike said.

Twilight smiled. "Okay, try to be back soon." Twilight hugged Spike and let him leave.

Spike waved back. "Later!" He stepped out the door, activated his wings, and took off.

"See ya!" Twilight smiled to herself as he left. "He's growing up. Probably a bit more than all of us." Twilight thought.


Spike flew freely through Ponyville, waving at friends and others on the streets. 

He was soon met by Rainbow Dash.

"Sup Spike? Whatcha doin'?" Rainbow said as she flew at the same pace as the dragon.

"Oh nothing much. Just going to the Crystal Empire 'cause Princess Cadence called me." He answered.

Rainbow smiled. "Pretty neat being a Prince and all huh?" She asked.

"Yeah. Not that I strive for it, but the praise I get now is really nice."

Rainbow reached in to bonk Spike in the nose. "Well you deserve it. Catch you later!" Rainbow flew off.

"Bye!" Spike continued to the Crystal Empire.





A guard trotted up to the room that was to the right of Celestia's bedroom. He proceeded to knock on the door. "Mr. Wall? There's a letter for you." The guard said.

The door then burst open, not that it made the guard recoil or anything.

"Come in." A voice said.

The guard walked in. The room was dimly lit by candles. 

Sitting on a chair was Armak wearing a robe, sipping a cup of coffee in front of the fireplace. "Yes?" He asked.

The guard didn't say anything as he gave Armak the letter.

Armak inspected the letter. "For me?"

The guard didn't reply as he walked away, and out the room.

Armak's horn glowed, and the door slammed shut.

The alicorn then began to rip the envelope, and take the letter out.

He unfolded the letter, and read quietly to himself.

"..."

Armak had a confused look, then read the letter again.

"I'm... needed? At the Crystal Empire?" He read it again, this time out loud. ""I would like to invite you to the Crystal Empire." Is this one of Discord's tricks, because if it is..."

Armak sighed, and undid his robe. "I shouldn't be assuming things. Now that we're on terms, I wouldn't like to screw this up." Armak thought to himself.

He looked up at the ceiling, staring at nothing in particular. "I hope you're watching me. Little bro."

Armak's horn shined a dark glow as he teleported away.





Spike arrived at the Crystal Empire. He was greeted by a hoard of ponies who was cheering for him. All he had in return was a wave and a smile, something Pinkie always loved.

After arriving, he immediately headed for the castle. 

He stepped into the castle and was greeted by Shining Armor. "Hey Spike! What's happening?" 

"Nothing much. Princess Cadence called me over. Didn't explain why." Spike scratched his head. "Anyways, do you know where she is?"

"She's in our bedroom." Shining told.

"Thanks! Talk to you later." Spike strolled passed Shining and waved at him.

Shining smiled and waved back, then started to trot off elsewhere.

Spike walked to the second top floor, then to the owners room. When he was about to knock, Cadence appeared from the end of the hall.

"Hello Spike!" Cadence gave a warm smile.

Spike smiled back and the two walked towards each other.

"Princess Cadence!" He hugged the pink alicorn.

Cadence stumbled for a second then hugged back. ""Cadence", is just fine."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind." Spike put both of his arms behind his back, and griped his claws together. "So, what'd you call me for?" He asked politely.

Cadence gestured a hoof to follow her and said, "This way."

So they both started walking side by side.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" Spike wanted to know.

"Well, remember a couple weeks ago, when Armak trapped all of Equestria in that gem of his?"

"Yeah. I think he called it, "Crystal World"." He explained.

"Right. I went to the local library, and did some research. It turns out that the myths are true! It appears that there's another world, a Crystal World."

"Um? Sorry to be off-topic, but why didn't you come to the library at Ponyville? I'm sure you'd be a lot better with Twilight."

Cadence chuckled. "I have my reasons. But anyways, I'm very interested, and I would like to visit this world myself."

"And... why do you need me?" Spike asked, trying his hardest not to be rude.

When Cadence heard what Spike asked, she sighed. "Well, there's just ONE little thing..."

Spike waited a bit for her to continue, but she didn't. "What Cadence?"

Cadence hesitated for a moment, then decided to reply.

Right when she was about to though, they heard something in the distance.

"That." She said bluntly.

Spike raised an eyebrow and squinted his eyes, trying to look for what Cadence was talking about.

When he was about to ask again, somepony interrupted him.

"Spike?! Oh, how good to see you!" Armak said happily.

He rushed up and shook Spike's claw wildly.

"Hi... Armak." Spike greeted with a awkward smile.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm good. You?"

"I'm great! Cadence! You never told me you were bringing good ol' Spike too!" 

Cadence gave a fake smile. "Yes! I...forgot to mention." She said sheepishly.

Armak turned and walked ahead of them.

Spike looked at Cadence with a knowing look. 

"That's the problem?" 

"That's the problem."

"I don't see anything wrong with Armak." Spike said, trying to reason.

"It's not your problem. It's mine." Cadence bent down and whispered in Spike's ear. "You're the closest to Armak, and I don't feel comfortable with him just yet, so I wanted some company. Also, if anything bad happens, I need someone to back me up."

Spike took in the words, and winked at Cadence with a smile, a fake smile. "You got it."

Cadence smiled and walked after Armak. "Wait for us!" She yelled.

When he saw that Cadence wasn't paying any attention to him, he frowned.

He was frustrated.

Armak is a changed stallion, like how Discord is. But other ponies still didn't understand. 

Spike calmed himself and sighed. If others wouldn't understand, then he'd have to somehow make them. Which shouldn't be too hard. Right?

Spike began to walk up to the other two.

"So what is happening Cadence?" Armak asked.

"You know the Crystal World?"

"Yes." 

"I am very interested. And I wanted to visit that world. You know, without being imprisoned." Cadence explained.

Armak chuckled and rubbed the back of his head embarrassingly. "Right."

They followed Cadence to a room in the far back of the castle.

When they were inside, both Armak and Spike were amazed.

"Whoa..." They both said, very astonished.

The walls were red crystal. Something out of the ordinary for the blue crystal castle. There were four red crystal pillars that would outline a square in the center. In the middle of the room, were four sets of stairs leading to one shrine.

"I never knew this room existed!" Spike said in amazement.

"That's because this room was recently renovated. This will be where the portal to the Crystal World will be placed.

"Portal? But the gemstone that I have in possession is the only true gateway in that world." Armak implied.

"Yes, but if I can manipulate it, I could create a portal that doesn't require somepony to use magic or dark magic to enter." She explained.

"Alright then. Here." Armak used his magic, and in a flash of light a big red crystal appeared in front of Armak. "I can still use normal magic you know." He explained.

"Thank you." Cadence took the gem with her magic, and trotted over to the shrine.

"Armak." Spike called out, which caused him to face the dragon. "Where did you find the gem?" He asked.

"Oh, during my time of resting, I came across an old temple. That is where I found it." He explained.

"Where is this temple?" Cadence asked while working.

"I... don't know exactly." Armak scratched his head.

Cadence carried the gem with her magic, and put it in the middle of the shrine, where it would start floating like the Crystal Heart would.

When the gem was in place, the room started to fill with gusts of wind. No pony or dragon knew where the strong air was coming from, and none cared as it died away.

The shrine alone started to tremble, and Cadence quickly flew off of it. She landed next to Spike and Armak.

The three stood and watched as the gem acted like a projector, and made a wall of red light appear. The wall of light shined and looked as if it was a red liquid, it also made a wavy type noise.

"Is that..." Spike started to question.

"The portal." Cadence said.

They all walked up to it.

Cadence looked at her two companions. "Everypony and dragon ready?" She asked.

Both Spike and Armak nodded, and they turned their heads to the portal, jumping in a second later.
> Friend Or Foe?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The three jumped out the other end of the portal, and they saw the magnificent place known as the Crystal World.

"Whoa..." Spike and Armak was amazed.

The portal was on top of a little hill made out of red crystal. Surrounding it was crystal grounds, crystal mountains, floating crystal clouds, and a city which looked like it was made out of crystal, all with a variation of colors.

Spike tempted not to go berserk and gobble down the place gem by gem. "This must be the Crystal World... Right?" Spike asked while his mouth was watering.

Cadence chuckled a bit. "Well, we're not trapped in some room. But there are crystals around us." Cadence said while examining the area.

"This is one pretty priso-" Cadence gave Armak a glare. "-I mean world of course!" Armak stuttered.

"...Right." Cadence continued to look at their surroundings.

A couple moments passed, and they heard a voice from coming from the direction to the city. "Greetings!"

They all stared as a crystal creature walking on two legs came towards them. The creature kind of looked like Spike, but didn't have claws, and was a bit taller. It's skin was a light blue, and it's eyes were a darker shade of blue.

"Welcome to the Crystal World, as you call it." The creature had a female voice, that echoed throughout the others' ears. It stopped in front of them, and bowed.

"Hello. Who are you?" Cadence asked kindly.

"M-My apologies Princess! My name is Crystal Shine," She started, while bowing again.

"Figures." Spike said bluntly.

"And I am one of the higher ranks in this world. I am a rare species known as a humane." She explained. 

"How do you know me?" Cadence asked.

"I shall explain, follow me to the city."

The three did as instructed and listened to this humane's story.

"We live and survive in this world just as you do, but this world itself is a lower rank than yours' called Equestria."

"I see... Can you explain why you know me?" Cadenced asked again politely.

Crystal Shine looked up at the glistening sky, making the others do as well. "These "clouds", as you call them, is our source to see into the higher world known as Equestria."

"Why do you need to look at our world?" Spike asked.

"Good question, Prince." She replied. "But I believe it's just for entertainment, or studies..." 

"Equestria? Entertaining? I don't see any correlation." Armak said.

"Well Armak, Equestria is an exciting place, full with action, adventure, sadness, slice of life, and even funny moments. It's one of the things that brightens this place up." She replied.

"This world hardly gets any major disruptions. That is, until the other week..."

Cadence and Spike understood what she said, but Armak did not.

"What? You had a crystal storm and the crystal power went out?" Armak said as a joke.

Spike sighed. Cadence and Crystal Shine gave Armak a glare.

"What?" Armak clearly didn't comprehend.

"Anyways, we've been watching you all. Not to be creepy..." She said guiltily.

"Oh no worries, you did nothing wrong. This can be our little secret." Cadence ensured.

"We saw many things. Nightmare Moon, love, Discord, harmony, Cutie Marks, the little ones... Oh, and your wedding!"

"You saw that?!" Cadence beamed.

"Yes! And a lot of the Crystal Creatures cheered when you and your husband took over the Crystal Empire, and defeated that nasty King Sombra." She said whilst smiling.

"We also saw the recent events involving Spike and Armak. Most creatures were extremely angry at all the ponies for treating Spike that way, but they calmed themselves when everything turned alright."

They soon entered the city.

All Spike and Cadence saw were lots of different creatures running up and bowing.

"H-Hey, we don't rule over this world. There's no need for that." Cadence said.

"You are like gods to us." Crystal Shine too bowed. "We must have respect."

Armak's eyebrows furrowed. "Hey I understand Spike, but I should get respect from you too if Cadence does." He said as he pointed to himself.

"You..." Shine looked at Armak coldly.

Before he could react, Armak was restrained by two powerful beast-looking creatures. One was white which held Armak's right fore leg, and one was black which held the other.

"H-Hey! Unhand me this instant!"

"What's going on?" Spike tried to interfere, but more crystal creatures of different kinds blocked him. Not wanting to potentially hurt them, Spike backed off. 

"Enough of this!" Armak tried to use his magic, but his horn didn't even start to glow. "W-What?"

"I believe you just tried to use your magic. Ones like Cadence, who were trapped here before, knows that Equestrian magic is unusable in this world."

"The entire world? I thought it was only that one room we got trapped in." Cadence thought to herself.

Armak grunted as he struggled to get free. Those beasts had him pinned down good.

"Don't just stand there. Help me!" Armak yelled, directing at Spike and Cadence.

"What's the big deal, Crystal Shine? Armak did nothing wrong." Spike tried to reason.

"Nothing wrong? Nothing wrong?!" Shine yelled, but soon calmed down. "My apologies for harsh words, Prince, but Armak has done enough damage here, even if he didn't physically come here before." She started to explain. "He stole an ancient crystal in the long lost crystal temple, he's used our world as a prison for our beloved princesses, and you're trying to tell me he hasn't done wrong?!"

Spike was lost at words to say.

A troll looking like creature jumped out from behind Cadence and forced her to eat some purple gems.

"Cadence!" Spike yelled worryingly.

Once she swallowed, she fell over about to hit the crystal floor. The troll however, caught her before doing so.

"Don't worry about her. She's just asleep, that's all."

"W-Why?" Spike asked.

"A princess should never experience looking at tragic moments, even if it's someone who deserves it." Crystal Shine explained.

"What are you going to do to him?"

"We are going to lock him up for eternity." She replied.

When he heard those words, Armak tried harder to escape the grasp of the two beasts.

"Alright fair enough, but Armak has changed. You saw that haven't you? Through the floating Crystals?" Spike asked.

"From the time he has stepped through that portal, Armak has done nothing to impress me."

Spike thought for a second. "Well... can you give him a test? So you could see that he's changed."

Crystal Shine pondered to herself. "Well... I know something he could do. It might not prove that he's changed, but it's a problem we can't handle ourselves."

"Name it."

Shine sighed. "...There's this crystal creature, up north, which breathes fire and is very strong. It causes havoc all across the northern region, and it will surely make it's way down here soon." She said sadly. 

Shine soon continued. "If Armak can help defeat it, then we will let him go. Until then, neither of you three will be allowed to leave this place. Do we have a deal?"

Spike put out his claw while smiling. "Deal." They shook, and the two beasts released Armak.

"Very well. We shall let Cadence rest in the town hall, where she will be watched over by us."

"When is she gonna wake up?"

"About an hour or two." Shine told.

"Okay, we'll wait until she wakes up then-"

"Are you really going to send a lady, a princess no less, to do some dirty work?" She asked baffled.

"Uh?" Spike grinned sheepishly. "Extra help?" Not sure what her reply would be.

"She will stay with us here, as you men fulfill your part of the deal."

Spike sighed. "If you say so."

"Come on, we don't need her!" Armak said angrily.

"Actually, I don't need help at all." Armak said, full of himself.

Spike chuckled. "Don't get ahead of yourself there, you don't have magic. Remember?"

Armak frowned. "Yeah, yeah." He turned his head away from Spike and crossed his fore legs. "What's so good about being the bearer of dark magic if you can't even use it." He murmured.

Spike apparently heard him, and started to giggle. 

"Well, I wish you good luck Spike. Take care." Crystal Shine said.

"Alright. We'll be back until you know it." Spike said.

"Farewell." She disregarded. 

Spike looked at Armak. "Looks like the Spike and Armak team is back together, working again." He said.

"I don't think that is something to be happy about..."

"Oh come on, lighten up a bit."

Armak scoffed. "Let's just get this over with..."

The two continued on north, where a short journey lies ahead.





Meanwhile in Equestria, things were about to get ugly. 

Luna flew over to Celestia, who was sitting on her throne, and whispered something to her.

Celestia's eyes widened, then returned to normal as she said, "We better call Discord."
> Start Of A New Journey... Kind Of
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We have no magic. We're trapped in the world of crystals. I'm missing valuable relaxation time. And the only way back is to stop a rampaging monster!" Armak was really annoyed.

Spike put his arms behind his head. "I kind of like a new adventure." He inputted.

"You like this?" Armak asked, bewildered.

"Well... yeah! I never went on many adventures before. And when I did, usually Twilight or the others did most of the work." He explained.

Armak sighed. "You're still too young. And I'm too old!"

"Yeaaah about that. How is it that you're aging? Aren't you immortal now since you've changed yourself into an alicorn and have all the dark magic?" He questioned.

"Back then when I first battled Celestia and Luna, they used the Elements Of Harmony on me. It made me so weak that my immortality weakened as well. I still aged while I was immobile, but very slowly."

Spike nodded.

"Now that I've awakened, my immortality is back, and I no longer age albeit I'm still pretty old."

"Makes sense." Spike said.

They continued to walk up north, to the beast who was causing havoc.





In a dark alleyway, a brown pony with a gray mane carried oranges in a bucket with his blue magic. It was eerie in the alleyway. Even a tin can rattling against the stone floor startled the stallion into looking backwards, expecting something behind him. 

Sighing with relief that the sound was just a can, the pony turned forward to begin walking again but stopped and had a spooked look when he saw a hooded pony in his way.

Under the hood, the pony's face was blocked by shadows. Whenever he exhaled white mist escaped his mouth. 

"Very sorry." The pony laughed nervously. "You came out of nowhere."

The covered pony exhaled mist once again and said, "'Is he friend or is he foe?' The pony wonders." He crackled slowly.

The brown pony got another nervous look on his face. 

"I can assure you... I am no friend." The cloaked pony said, slowly again. The bottom part of his face started to show under the hood, revealing his red mouth and nose which had piercings through it. He had a long, gray beard as well. "I am Lord... Tirek!" He said while gripping his hand into a fist tightly, showing off his thin arm with a cuff without a chain. Did ponies have hands? "And I will take what should have been mine long ago." As he said this he opened his jaw and seemingly took the pony's blue magic, making the pony's eyes go wide as his Cutie Mark of four green gems disappear. 

"Prince Spike... Help me..." With his magic gone, the pony dropped the bucket of oranges and fell down to his stomach with a thud. He looked up at the 'pony' with colorless eyes.

The brown pony's fear grew when he saw that the 'pony' in front of him grew in size with an orange glow. Possibly because of his magic stolen.

The 'pony', not noticing the one before him call out to a prince, laughed creepily and his eyes glowed a bright yellow.





Spike yawned. "So?"

"What?" Armak asked.

"Are you getting this feeling that Equestria needs us right now?"

"...Nope."

Spike shrugged.





Luna walked through the dream realm. Looking through others' dreams. 

Not too long ago had she and Celestia woken up shaken from "not a dream, but a vision."

Celestia recently asked Luna to bring Cadence and Shining Armor to the castle for an emergency, but when Luna arrived at the Crystal Empire, Shining said that she was on a "top secret mission" in the Crystal World.

When she entered through the portal she met a being named Crystal Shine who was supposedly a "Humane". She bowed respectively and Luna explained the situation making Crystal Shine bring her to Cadence, who was sleeping in a room of the Town Hall. The only way Luna could wake up Cadence was to make her Lucid in her dreams, so that meant visiting her dreams. Which wasn't hard, except... this world's dream realm was completely different from the one in Equestria. This dream realm wasn't even in alphabetical order. It was in numeric order! ...Backwards!

After some time, she eventually found Cadence in her dreams. She was playing happily with Shining Armor on a swing set... and they were foals... and Shining had a wedding dress... which was black.

This dream was not that surprising to Luna. With how many dreams she entered, this was on the "weird but not that weird" list. 

With a shine from the Princess Of The Night's horn, everything disappeared leaving only the grass and a confused filly Cadence looking around scratching her head.

"Cadence." Luna was right behind the filly.

Cadence got agitated and quickly looked behind her ready to fight. She stopped when she saw Luna. "Wait..." Cadence was looked up at Luna. "Auntie Luna? Let me guess..." She started to state facts. "Shiny in a dress, perfect swing set, perfectly cut grass, perfect weather, no problematic occurrences... Dream?"

"Dream." Luna clarified and sighed. "Now that you're aware of your dreams, you must awake."

Luna flew up and used her magic.





Cadence slowly opened her eyes. "Hello, aunti-!"

"No time for introductions! Follow!"

She looked at Crystal Shine.

"Go!" She yelled.

Cadence nodded and followed quickly. 

Luna was the one pony who took introductions very seriously. This made Cadence have no doubt that this was important.





Spike and Armak had reached another crystal Town. This one being made up entirely out of blue crystal.

The town was in terrible shape. Structures were destroyed, creatures were hiding in fear. It looked like Discord himself if he had magic walked through this place.

Spike had sympathy for the creatures in this part of the crystal world. Armak looked like he didn't care.

One creature, looking like a changeling but made out of crystal, saw Spike and yelled. "Everyone, look! It's our savior."

More and more beings started to come out of hiding and smiled happily when they saw Spike.

They all ran over and bowed. 

"Now I know how Twilight feels." He said with a nervous smile.

"You're the Prince." Armak said.

The creatures all gasped when they heard Armak.

"It's him!"

"No! He wants to hurt us even more!"

"Naw mate, he turned good after their scuffle. Right?"

"He's going to eat us alive!"

The group of creatures started to yell all at once that either Armak was here to cause trouble, or he was a good guy.

Spike cleared his throat loud, trying to get the crystal beings' attention.

After he noticed that they didn't hear him, he cleared his throat again, a little louder.

"..." They still didn't hear.  

"HEY!" Armak yelled, causing all arguments to stop. "You may speak now." He said, clearly annoyed.

"Thank you. Like I was trying to ask: Did that creature come here and cause this recently?" Spike asked.

"The monster that blows fire and wrecks havoc across the northern region? Yeah, not too long ago!" One alligator said.

"Okay. Well... do any of you know which direction the monster went?"

"He went that-a-way." A crystal cub bear said while pointing to the right of the village.

"Kay thanks bye!" Armak said quickly.

"Are you gonna stop him black pony?" The cub asked.

Armak looked down, about to yell at the cub for no reason until he saw the cub with big cute pleading eyes.

"I- Well- Yes!" Armak stuttered.

Spike started to laugh at his companion's antics.

Armak groaned and said, "Let's just go already!"

With that, the two went on. And behind them were cheering from the beings that lived in that city.





A tall figure was approaching the city.

"Hello there city!" It said. "Time for some more fun!"


> A New Enemy?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...But it appears he has found a way to escape." Celestia explained.

The four alicorn Princesses were gathered at Canterlot castle. Celestia and Luna had just recently told who and what this Tirek being was to Twilight and Cadence.

"We believe it happened when Cerberus left his post at the gates." Luna said.

Twilight shook her head. "But that was a long time ago. Why is he just now starting to steal magic?" She asked.

"His time in Tartarus left him very weak. He has just now gained enough strength to use his dark powers." Celestia said as she walked around the table they were all standing around.

"So like how it was with Armak?" Twilight asked.

"I suppose so."

"With each passing moment, he grows stronger still." Luna told.

"And I know just the Princess who could stop him." Cadence said with a knowing smile.

Twilight spread her wings in determination and said, "Yes! I'll find him and-" 

"No, Twilight,"

Twilight looked behind to face Celestia.

"I'm afraid I must call on another to stop Tirek." She closed her eyes for a second then said, "Discord."

The other three alicorns gasped.

"Princess. You're not saying that-"

"Yes..." Celestia walked up to the closest window and stared at the bright blue sky. "Twilight, you remember when Discord tracked down Rarity's little sister by sensing her magic. If anyone can track him down, it shall be Discord."

"And how do you suppose he tracks him in time. Tirek is still very weak." Luna noted.

"He will sense when a there is a magical imbalance. And that's when either he or I will strike."

Twilight sighed.

"I know you may think this is a risky decision. But I have to make risky plays, or my little ponies will be in great danger."

Twilight nodded.





Spike and Armak walked side by side. They were approaching another city.

"Ugh! How many more towns do we have to go to?! Every single one of them, "you just missed the monster." I say we just sneak back to Equestria and never return!" Armak said angrily.

"Come on Armak. It's only been three cities so far."

"But we don't even have to do this! I could just sneak back to the portal without any one of them noticing." 

"Uh, we probably don't have to. But it's the right thing to do. Besides, it's boring in Equestria right now anyways."

"This world is even more boring! I want action! I want trouble! I want something to happen-"

*BANG!*

The area around them shook.

"Well, there you go." Spike said with a smile.

"Argh! Finally!"

*EXPLOSION!*

"Let's go stop this thing."

Spike and Armak made their way to the city, intent on stopping this creature.

They were in the middle of a street soon after. Every corner, another crystal creature was cowering in fear. Spike had sympathy for all these beings. As he too could remember a time where every pony in Equestria was frightened beyond levels.

The two males followed the sounds of explosions, and in a short amount of time, they found their monster.

"Huh?" Spike's eyes widened.

This creature was a tall crystal clear dragon, looking very intimidating. It had a purple scaled body with green spikes on top of its head running all the way down to its long tail, and a light grayish green belly.

"It looks like you." Armak said. "But whatever, it's not you."

Spike had a flashback to the time his greed took him over. When he rampaged as a full grown dragon and Rarity stopped him.

"Spike?"

Armak snapped Spike out of it. "Oh! Right. We came here to stop it."

The crystal dragon looked behind itself, stopping from crushing another building, and with its emerald eyes, stared down at the two.

When its eyes crossed over Armak, it looked surprised. But when it scanned Spike, the look of pure hatred couldn't even begin to describe its expression.

It roared powerfully, showing off its two sharp rows of teeth.

"Do dragons have two rows of teeth?!" Armak asked, yelling over the roar.

"I don't think so!" Spike replied.

Once it was done roaring, the crystal dragon rushed Spike and tried to grab him.

Spike activated his wings and flew up to dodge the grab.

Armak gave a boring sigh. "Time to get this over with." He pointed his horn, charged it, and fired- "Oh wait... DARN IT!" He remembered he couldn't use magic in this world.

Spike flew high in the air and flew back down with great speed. He drop kicked the dragon and flew back over to Armak.

"What are you doing?" Spike asked.

"Well sorry! I was trying to use my magic because I forgot that we couldn't."

"...Oh yeah... we can't'." Spike lowered his arm, stopping from trying to fire a magic blast.

The dragon picked itself up and looked at Spike. It roared and blew its green fire at him.

Spike looked shocked. "It even has my signature green fire?!"

Armak flew out of the way and Spike just stood there.

"Spike! Look out!" He tried to yell, but the fire hit Spike dead on.

"Nooo-! Huh?"

Spike was standing there, perfectly fine.

"Not even a burn mark on you?"

"I'm a dragon." Spike deadpanned.

"...And?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "Dragons can swim in hot lava. I don't think they'll be affected by fire..."

Armak growled. "Well, I didn't know-"

*ROAR*

"Dragon lessons later, defeating giant dragon now!" Spike and Armak flew up to the beast.

It tried its fire again at Spike, but the smaller dragon just flew through it and knocked him hard on its snout.

During the battle, the large dragon seemed to be only going after Spike, and not Armak.

It was hard for the alicorn to get a hit in. The fire didn't affect Spike but it surely would affect him if it connected. Once he got a kick in, however, the large creature roared in pain and swiped at Armak.

The alicorn tried to teleport away but fail miserably. "Oh... drat."

The swipe nearly missed however when Spike tackled Armak out of the way.

They both landed together on the ground with a thud.

"Get off of me!" Armak pushed Spike off.

"Your welcome." Spike said, obviously annoyed.

"Thank you, sorry. I'm just really frustrated right now."

"Ha, why? Because you can't use your stolen dark magic?" Spike laughed.

Armak, being the one annoyed now, flew up to the incoming beast and knocked it back, making it drag against the crystal ground.

"As soon as we're done stopping this... thing, the sooner we go home!"

Spike got up with a grin. "Right behind you!"





In a dark alleyway, a grayish blue unicorn stallion with a spiked black mane fell to the floor because of his lack of magic. He opened his colorless eyes and looked dazed as the being, now called Tirek, in front of him sparked with black electricity and grew bigger with a yellow glow.

Tirek gritted his teeth and gripped his fists as he grew in size. He soon looked back to see a gray unicorn stallion with a black mane using his blue magic on something down the alleyway.

Tirek neared towards the pony, sneaking up behind him. He put his arms out, ready to grab him at any second.

A few steps closer and the pony turned to reveal not a pony, but a draconequus. "Tirek, I presume." He said.

Tirek looked shocked for a second. He squinted his eyes and inspected the being before him. "Discord. You're... free?" He asked.

With a flash of light, Discord turned into a bird standing on a bird stand. "As a bird." He replied.

"I commend you on your escape." Tirek said with a bow.

Discord flashed back to normal. "I'm afraid the feeling isn't mutual." He snapped his claw.

Tirek widened his eyes. He turned angry and tried to break the chain now binding him. After failing, he charged his red magic and fired a tiny plasma beam at Discord, who split his head in two to avoid the beam.

"Oh, I should have known you would want to have Equestria all to yourself."

Discord was twirling a baton in his paw's finger while wearing a police outfit. He tossed it away and said, "Oh, I'm not doing this for me." The baton landed on the ground making a noise. "I'm doing it for my friends." He went closer to Tirek's face and whispered, "Just between the two of us, it's mostly for Spike and Fluttershy." He squeed silently and gave Tirek his personal space.

Tirek caught the name of Fluttershy. "Fluttershy? Spike?" Tirek didn't recognize the pony who had the name of Fluttershy, but he did know that it was a pony name. "You're not saying you're friends with... ponies!" He said, bewildered.

Discord popped out of a giant cake that he poofed up while Tirek was thinking. "Surprise!" He yelled.

Some of the icing splattered on Tirek's cloak. "I am surprised that someone with your intellect does not see this "friendship" is but a new form of imprisonment." He showed off his new chains. "Clearly you've had to abandon your true nature to stay in their good graces."

You could see Discord playing a Lyre with a halo above his head. He threw away the Lyre and crossed his arms. "I have done nothing of the sort." He looked up at his halo and shewed it away. Making the halo fly away.

Tirek gave Discord the "talk to the hand" gesture and said, "Oh, please. I've seen this before." He gripped his fists in anger. "But he was always weak-minded." Tirek zipped to Discord and said, "You are Discord. You are legend." He placed a hand on Discord's chest. "You cannot fall into the same trap that claimed my brother."

"Help me to grow strong and be rewarded with something far greater than friendship..." His yellow eyes glowed brightly. "Freedom."

Discord was taken aback. 

"Once I have stripped these ponies of their magic, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see their world turned upside down. Who better to do so than the master of chaos himself?"

Discord put his talon to his chin in thought.

"Join me, Discord, and reclaim your greatness. Unless, of course, "pony errand boy" is the role you've always wanted to play in this world." Tirek snapped causing his hood to come off.

Discord looked back to see a nightstand, his nightstand floating in the air holding a picture of himself and Fluttershy, another picture of him and an annoyed Armak with the words "best reformed bad guys" written on it, and a Discord action figure.

He put his talon on his chin in thought once again.





The crystal dragon roared in pain as crystal scales on his left leg began to tear off.

"Ohhh, that's gotta hurt." Spike rubbed his left leg like he was the one losing scales.

At another look at the dragon, it seemed as it was growing weaker.

"Alright! Spike, time to finish this!" Armak was about to swoop in from above but stopped in shock when he saw that crystal around the area latched on and merged to the dragon, making new scales.

"Oh come on!" Armak and Spike yelled in frustration.

The dragon growled then roared once again.

Spike flew up and rammed into the dragon's stomach. It growled in pain and held its stomach.

It gave Spike an angry glare and quickly took hold of him.

Armak tried to rush in and help, but the crystal dragon lashed at him with his tail.

With its two claws, it started to crush Spike. 

Spike thought of something. "Wait... Magic can't be used here, but what about fi-" Spike mentally slapped himself as he saw the same dragon in front of him use fire. He opened his mouth and blew his green fire.

The flames hit the dragon's eyes. It didn't affect it, but it sure did blind it.

Spike used this opportunity and struggled out of the crystal beast's grasp. 

Right after, Armak flew in from behind and slammed it down, making it lose some more scales from the impact.

Spike flew in and kicked where the dragon had lost its scales, the pain was intensifying for it.

"That should keep it down for a while-" Armak tried to say.

More crystals around the area merged and attached to the dragon. Soon after, the dragon pushed itself back up, looking furious.

"Maybe not." 





"There is no doubt that Tirek is after alicorn magic. With Discord by his side, we will not be able to stop him from taking it."

"Once it is in his possession, his power will know no bounds and all hope will be lost." Luna explained.

As they talked Twilight wondered, "Where's Spike? And shouldn't Armak be here since he's an Alicorn aswell?"





Another block of crystal merged with the dragon, making newer scales.

Armak grunted. "That is just... urgh! Spike? Don't dragons normally eat all sorts of gems?!"

"Yeah." 

"Well go on! There's a feast right there!"

Spike raised an eyebrow at Armak and dramatically raised his arms up. "Yeah, Armak! How about I go ask him to stay still so I could eat him? I really bet I could eat the whole thing, even with my small stomach! Better yet, I could probably eat it fast so it wouldn't regenerate!" He said sarcastically.

"...Well, go then!"

Spike facepalmed.





"But there is one solution." Celestia spoke up.

The older three alicorns, who were standing in front of the castle throne, flew down to stand in front of Twilight.

"It is only by making by making this sacrifice that Equestria and the lands beyond it might be saved." Celestia closed her eyes for a mere three seconds then opened them again with a serious look. "We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has the chance to steal it from us."

Twilight grew wide-eyed and gasped.
> Equestria In Danger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The four alicorn princesses were standing together in Canterlot Castle's throne room.

"Tirek is set on possessing alicorn magic." Luna started. "When he comes for us, we cannot have what he is looking for."

Twilight thought for a quick second and said, "I'm more than willing to do my part and give up my magic."

Luna shook her head. "You misunderstand. Our magic cannot just disappear into thin air. Somepony must keep it safe."

Cadence walked up to Twilight with eyes of worry and said, "That somepony is you, Twilight."

Twilight's ears drooped low and she asked, "Why me?"

"We do not believe that Tirek is aware that a fourth Alicorn princess exists in Equestria. If we transfer our magic to you, Tirek will not know where it has gone." Celestia explained.

"Do you understand what we're asking of you?" Cadence asked.

"Yes. It's just I'm only now learning how to control my own Alicorn magic. To take on even more-"

"Twilight, you represent the Element Of Magic." Cadence held Twilight's hoof with her own. "If there is anypony who can do this, it's you."

Celestia and Luna nodded their heads in agreement.

"Taking on this task will be one of the most difficult things I will ever do. But with the help of Spike-"

"About that..." Cadence put her head down. "Spike, as well as Armak, are back in the Crystal world."

"Crystal World?" Celestia asked.

"It's a long story. They probably won't be back for some time." She sighed sadly. "It was such a bad time..."

"Perhaps... it's in our fortunate that Spike and Armak aren't here." Celestia said.

"What do you mean?"

"What were to happen if Tirek stole both Spike's Fire Magic, and Armak's Dark Magic?"

They all realized what Celestia meant.

"He would be... unstoppable." Luna looked distraught.

"Precisely. And since both of them aren't even in Equestria at the moment, it gives Tirek a lot less magic to steal."

"...Well in any case, with the help of my friends-"

"I'm sorry, Princess Twilight, but you must keep your new abilities a secret. I fear that your friends being aware of your new power could put them at great risk." Celestia told. "Do you still think you can take on this responsibility?"

Twilight put on a serious and determined look on her face. "This is the role I am meant to play as a Princess of Equestria. I will not fail to do my duty!"

"Then we must begin at once."

The three older Alicorns surrounded Twilight. They all charged their horns and soon enough, their eyes started to glow brightly. They released their magic above Twilight, making a giant sphere of magic.

Twilight had a nervous look.

The giant sphere of Alicorn magic came rushing down to Twilight, filling up her horn.





Meanwhile, in a different part of Equestria, Discord watched, rubbing his claw and paw together, as Tirek took the magic away from four more ponies.

Suddenly, his whole body started to shake. He put a paw to his chin. "That can't be right."

"What can't be right?" Tirek asked as his horns grew longer and had an inward curve.

"Nothing. Carry on." Discord lied.

Tirek carried on. As he walked the ground shook with each step he took.





Celestia, Luna, and Cadence all looked very ill. They lied on the floor and looked at Twilight who was glowing brightly. She twitched here and there, and floated a bit off the ground.

The glowing soon stopped, and Twilight rubbed her head for a second. She looked up at the other princesses and quickly ran over to hug Celestia. A single tear escaped her eye.

That was when Twilight noticed that Celestia didn't have her sun Cutie Mark.

Luna raised her wing to reveal that she too had lost hers. Cadence followed suit.

Celestia sighed. "It is done."





Spike flew fast to get away from the rampaging dragon. It was glowing.

"What's happening to it?!" Armak asked.

"I don't know!"

Suddenly, a lot more crystals merged with the dragon, making... armor?

"Hm. Looks like it upped its defence." Armak stated. "I'm surprised it's smart enough to even do that."

The armor the dragon wore was made of dark green crystal. There were spikes at its shoulders, and spikes on its helmet.

"These crystal creatures wouldn't have stood a chance even if they tried." Armak said.

"Well that's why we're here. So let's continue." Spike rushed in and headbutted the dragon's chest, making it fly back.

Spike rubbed his now pounding head. 

"What do you expect from headbutting pure crystal?" Armak asked.

"I'm not the smartest guy, okay?" Spike shot back.

From the crystal dust the dragon's impact created, two glowing greens eyes could be seen.

"He looks really angry. And with no magic, this is going to be a LOT harder." 

"Yup."

Armak grunted. "The other princesses don't know the feeling of having no magic while fighting for their lives. Why does it have to be me?!"





It was a starry night in Ponyville. 

Most ponies were asleep by now, but Twilight had the ability to stay up because of all the power she had.

She walked past Spike's basket. 

Twilight stopped for a moment and stared at the empty basket, ending it all off with a sigh. "Oh Spike, I wish you were here right now. Even if you only were just sleeping in your little basket."

The silence was all she received.

She sighed again. "Don't worry little bro, you'll get your own room soo-" Her horn glowed and sparked with electricity. Making a few books fly around behind her.

"How does Spike, Armak, Discord and the princesses control their magic? I still doubt that I have more magic than Spike."

She took a look at the books and picked them up. Soon after putting them away, she noticed one of the book's cover.



The Power Of Magic: Volume VII



Twilight smiled. "I remember reading this. It told about the different types of magic."

"An earth pony's strength, which helped tend the land."

"A pegasus's flight, which helped them control the weather."

"A unicorn's magic, which helped with many things."

"And Alicorn magic. Noteably Princess Celestia's and Luna's, which raised and lower the sun and the moon."

"Speaking of, the sun should be up by now." Twilight gasped, ignoring the spark from her horn and realized, "The sun should be up by now!"

She rushed to her window and looked at the moon. She took a deep breath and said to herself, "You can do this." She charged her horn and pointed it to the sky out her window. 

The moon jittered for a second.

Twilight started to levitate and her mane and tail started to whirl.

After another second of jittering, the moon came violently down but reappeared back up in the sky. It went back down and the sun came up.

It went like this for another round then finally the sun stayed up in the air.





Shining Armor looked up a the sun weirdly. Unknown to him, the two pony guards who were standing behind him rose in the air uncontrollably, leaving Shining Armor alone.

With a flash of light, Shining's helmet vanished. He was stunned.

Discord flashed in front of him with his helmet on. "Shining Armor. Why, whatever are you doing here?" He asked playfully.

Shining pushed Discord back. "Back off, traitor!"

"The only one Discord betrayed was himself."

Shining looked over to see Tirek draining the pony guard from before from his magic.

Once he was done, he continued, "Abandoning his true nature to make "friends" with weak-minded equines who offer him nothing."

Shining replied with a magic beam from his horn.

Tirek caught the beam which turned into a ball in his hand. He plopped the magic ball into his mouth and chewed it like gum, mocking Shining Armor.

He forced Shining's mouth shut with his hand soon after, forcing him to keep quiet. He opened his mouth wide and stole Shining's magic from his horn.

The unicorn's legs shook, and he weakly fell flat.

He looked up at Discord with colorless eyes and asked, "How could you do this?" And he collapsed.

Tirek wrapped an arm around Discord and said, "Why don't you go and have a little fun? I won't stand in your way."

Tirek then left Discord, who chuckled evilly.





Twilight ran through the middle of the streets of Ponyville. She decided to catch some wind to save some time.

She soon saw that as a mistake however, as she flew too fast.

This caught the attention of Rainbow Dash and the others, who were just doing their own thing. They all started to gallop towards the unusually fast Alicorn.

Twilight, seeing herself at no control, decided to land. When she landed it was a hard impact, she grazed forward a bit but soon came to a complete stop.

Her friends quickly arrived at her side.

"Oh my goodness. Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked.

Before Twilight got a chance to respond, Applejack spoke up. "Jumpin' june bugs, Twilight. When did you learn to fly that fast?!"

Twilight gave her a nervous look. "I... must have caught a particularly strong breeze-" She instantly teleported beside Rarity. "-or something."

Rainbow look confused. "Must've been "or something" because there wasn't any breeze up there."

"I don't know what happened." Twilight said worriedly. "But I don't really have time to figure it out right now." Her body sparked with electricity right after.

"Another visit to the castle of the Castle Of The Two Sisters, I presume?"

Twilight's friends all gave her excited smiles. "We'd be more than happy to accompany you."

Twilight interjected. "Not today." She sparked again. "Tirek may still be a threat. I need you all to stay here and encourage everypony to remain inside." Twilight spread her wings and was going to start to fly again, but soon decided against it. So she started to walk to her destination, leaving her sad, confused, and worried friends behind.





"Give my regards to Cerberus." Tirek stood in front of the castle throne. He used his magic and shot out a yellow beam which turned into a portal to a prison called Tartarus above the three weak Alicorn Princesses. Tirek levitated them through the portal and closed it soon after.

Tirek crossed his arms and looked achieved.

"You meant, our will, didn't you?"

Tirek turned to look at Discord who was playing with a glass window.

"Of course." Tirek replied. "Here. I want you to have something." He showed Discord a golden amulet. "This was given to me by someone very close to me. I give it to you as a sign of my gratitude and loyalty." He strapped the amulet around Discord's neck.

Discord looked at the amulet with amazement. "Oh my! I do love a good accessory." He scratched his beard. "I suppose that's Rarity's influence."

Tirek chuckled at the sight of Discord's recreation. The glass window showed him and Discord with a sword and bread in hand looking powerful. 

"Amusing. But we have no time for such things." He started to walk down the hall. "With the Princesses out of the way we can can now-" He stopped. Right next to him were three glass windows. 

The one on the right showed an intimidating, black alicorn stallion with his wings raised and horn shined.

The one in the middle showed a purple alicorn mare with her horn glowing purple.

And the most recent one showed a purple and green dragon with two magical green spheres in his palms.

"Are these... meant to be HUMOROUS?!"

Discord shook his paw and claw. "Oh no! I haven't touched those yet."

"Two more Alicorns and a powerful dragon of some sort? And you did not tell me this?!"

Discord shrugged. "I just needed some assurance that you truly considered this a team effort. And now... I have it." He said while showing off the amulet Tirek gave him.

"Then where can we find these new Alicorns and mighty dragon?" He gripped Discord's neck. "Where are their castles?" 

Discord laughed. "Castles? Oh no. Princess Twilight being the purple one and Prince Spike being the dragon lives above a library in Ponyville. And Armak was supposed to be here, but I guess he's somewhere else. Don't worry though. With his cocky attitude, he'll show up eventually." He laughed again. "Castles? Ha ha."

"Above a library in Ponyville huh?" He let go of Discord's neck and smiled. "Not for much longer." He walked away, every step he took shook the area. And his next stop was presumably Ponyville. 

And as he walked, he used his magic to melt the three glass windows. 





Armak flew in and knocked the beast back.

Some of the dragon's armor broke off from before, and more had just fallen off because of Armak's strike.

Before it had time to recover, Spike swooped in kicked it from behind.

The dragon tried to get up yet again, but this time, Armak upper-cutted him into the air.

To finish it off, Spike blew a fireball at the dragon. The flames wouldn't have been effective, but the impact sure would.

The beast crashed into a crystal hill. The force made its surroundings full of crystal dust.

Armak coughed at the dust. Spike inhaled it greedily.

When the dust had cleared, the two males could see the beast try to get up, only to land back down harshly.

"Listen creature! We don't want to end you!" Spike shouted.

"We don't?" Armak asked.

Spike gave his companion a stern look but soon turned back to the dragon. "If you stop being destructive, then we'll leave you alone!"

The beast slowly opened his eyes to look at Spike and Armak. 

To Spike's and Armak's surprise, it smiled.

But not a good smile, and evil smirk.

It got up to its feet, albeit very weakly. "So," It started. "It looks like I really have to use my TRUE powers!"

The other two grew wide-eyed.

"Did it just speak?!" Armak was bewildered.

"So I guess I wasn't just hearing things." Spike put out.

"And..." Armak started. "It sounds oddly familiar."

Suddenly, the beast seemed like it evaporated. Smoke covered where it once stood.

After a few seconds, the smoke dimmed down, and two glowing, emerald green eyes pierced through it.

The smoke then cleared, revealing the creature's true form, which caused Armak and Spike to be shocked.

"Wha-What...?" Spike was lost for words.

"I-Is that..?"

The creature now stood as another Spike. It resembled him in every way. His purple scales, his lime green spikes, and green belly.

But this Spike seemed... different somehow.

"Wh-Who are you?" Spike asked.

When Spike and Armak heard the creature's voice, the one thing that came to mind was Spike's voice, but it sounded... demonic. 

"Me?" The being chuckled. "I'm you... Or let's say..." 

"I'm your true self."
> Another New Enemy?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Theme:







"What do you mean you're my true self? Wh-Who are you?!"

"Hehe..." The other Spike stayed silent.

"Spike, I didn't know you had a twin brother," Armak said.

"I don't!"

"Then... who is he?"

"I don't know! Don't ask me!" Spike yelled.

"Woah, chill out there Spike."

"Hehe..." It chuckled creepily. "If you want to call me by my name... you can call me Spike."

Spike's eyes widened and he yelled in fury. "You're not Spike! I am!"

"Who are you exactly? You look exactly like Spike except your color scheme seems... darker."

"You want to know who I am?" It asked, causing the other two to nod. "Well... you could say I'm Spike's TRUE self."

"What does that even mean?!" Spike asked, bewildered.

It just chuckled and activated its wings.

Spike and Armak stepped back a little.

"Now let's have some REAL fun!"

It flew forward and charged at its two opponents.

Spike and Armak flew forward as well.

The three collided causing a massive explosion containing black, green, and dark green waves.





The Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting out in their clubhouse. Their sisters told them that it would be safe if they stayed there.

"Spike..." Sweetie Belle wondered if her special somedragon was safe out there. Her thoughts were corrupted however when her horn sparked making her wince.

This resulted in her friends giggling.

"You okay there Sweets?" Asked Apple Bloom. "Ya seem like you dozed off someplace else."

"Yeah I'm fine, just... thinking about things."

"Spike?" Scootaloo asked with a knowing look.

Sweetie Belle nodded.

Apple Bloom reached over and pulled her two friends into a hug. "Don't worry! Twilight, Spike and the princesses will have this all sorted out in a jiff."





After their head on collision, Spike flew back and landed on his feet. "This guy... This... imposter. Somehow he has my strength. But how?!"

Armak became aggressive and charged Dark Spike. He tried to land a punch but failed when Dark Spike flew to dodge. Armak kept chasing, missing every intended strike.

"Why? *Punch* Can't? *Punch* I? *Punch* Hit you!?"

Dark Spike started to laugh again. "If you couldn't beat Spike back then how could you even think to try stopping me?"

Armak growled.

Dark Spike reached forward and quickly flew around Armak. He grabbed him and put him in a headlock.

"Let go of me!" Armak screamed.

Spike tried to sneak up from behind. He flew in and tried to land a hit.

Dark Spike, however, grinned madly and used Armak as a meat shield.

Armak roared in pain when Spike punched him by accident.

Dark Spike tossed Armak away and smirked at Spike.

Spike growled in fury. He attempted a punch straight for his dark Counterpart and it hit.

Dark Spike flew back a little, he rubbed his cheek and said, "I'll give you one chance my little imposter."

"You're the imposter!" Spike yelled back.

Dark Spike ignored what he said. "Imagine. Two of us, together, ruling the lands of Equestria and beyond it. With our powers, NO ONE will be able to stand up to us."

Spike was shocked.

"A world with the two of us ruling. We could replace Celestia and Luna and walk this future down a much better path."

"I don't want to rule this world. I don't want to defeat my family!"

"Aren't you already PRINCE Spike?"

Spike roared in rage and charged, only for Dark Spike to fly around Spike. "A world WE could make for the better." It said.

Spike stopped flying forward and looked back at his counterpart.

"We could have anything we want! We could keep all your friends SAFE!"

"Define safe."

"In a cold cell placed away from everypony." It said darkly.

Armak flew in from behind and grabbed Dark Spike. "Now I've got you." He started to laugh but soon stopped when, Dark Spike himself started laughing.





"All right, y'all, I think we've warned everypony to stay inside," Applejack said.

There was absolutely no pony in Ponyville on the streets. Most windows were boarded up and the only ones who outside were the Mane Five.

"I'm sure Discord will catch Tirek and this will all be over soon," Fluttershy said calmly.

"I'll bet he takes his sweet time," Rainbow said while hovering in the air.

"Or perhaps these things just take time."

They looked over to see Discord with open arms. 

Fluttershy jumped up and hugged Discord. "You're back!" She yelled. "Did you bring the cucumber sandwiches?"

"I did." Disord poofed in a tray full with said sandwiches. His face turned from a cheerful one to a serious one. "I imagine they'll be your last decent meal for quite some time," He said darkly.

He dropped the tray full of food and with a flash, a cage appeared trapping the Mane Five in it.

Discord flew up with a smile on his face.

The Mane Five started shouting, demanding an explanation.

"Ta-da!" 

Tirek walked towards the Mane Five and Discord. "You've gathered up all of them?" Tirek asked.

"I'm afraid that Spike nor Armak is around. But with these ponies, Twilight will surely come up."

Fluttershy cried against Applejack and asked, "Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends."

Discord shrugged it off and replied, "Oh, we were. But Tirek offered me so much more than just tea parties. Surely you saw this coming."

"I didn't. I really didn't." She sobbed.

Applejack glared at Discord.

Tirek levitated the cage that held the Element Bearers and brought them close to his face. He started to take the magic of the five ponies.

Discord grew a sympathetic face, but it soon turned to realization. "So that's where they are. What's this? A third?"

"Erm Tirek, while you do that I have a certain dragon I would like to meet." And with that, he poofed away.





Dark Spike had Spike in a tail headlock and Armak in his claw, he threw Armak away and he brought Spike in front of him while crossing his arms.

Spike struggled to escape. "Who... in Equestria... Are you?"

"You want to know?" He shrugged. "Fine, I'll tell you." He threw Spike beside Armak with his tail.

Dark Spike landed in front of the two and smiled. "First off, I need to explain how I was born."

"We know how the analogy works, get on with it!" Armak snapped.

Dark Spike laughed. "I wouldn't talk to my son like that, dear old dad." 

Armak gasped.

"I was born from a spell. The same spell you place on our dear Spike over here to bring out his TRUE emotions towards the ponies."

The two gasped.

"Wait... I-I remember now!" Spike pointed a finger at Dark Spike. "Y-You're him! The thing in my head when Armak's spell controlled me!"

"Yes, we meet again... brother."

"W-What? I'm so confused." Armak stated.

"While you took control of me. This guy came inside my mind and tried to take me to the dark side." Spike explained.

"Oh. But... you were merely a spell, how did you come out here and get a body?" Armak was confounded.

"Well I can explain that aswell."





You see... back when Spike's... friends, approached him on top of a volcano, I got released once again.

"What's happening? Why is Spike turning back into that monster?"

It wasn't long until I got defeated once again, but this time, I found a solution.

"...you cannot get rid of me. I am a part of you!"

That's what I thought, until I gathered enough magic to escape his body and travel elsewhere.

But you're merely a spell, how could you have so much power?

Hehe, Dark Magic really is something different isn't it?

Huh?

Dark Magic was used to create me, so I possess it as well.

What?

What?

That's right, and I also used my Dark Magic to take some of Spike's DNA with me, so I could create a NEW body in the future.

B-But... why are you in the Crystal World then?

I wasn't finished my story my loving brother.

Grrr...

I also was attached to Armak, since he released the spell. But I also found a solution to that!

Let me guess. Since the Crystal World is a whole another world, when you traveled through the portal to it, any connection was cut off.

You're really smart dad. Yes, that was exactly the case. After I traveled through, however, there was no way back. I figured out you had a time limit before you couldn't use your magic, so I quickly started to build my body using the combination of, Dark Magic, crystals, and my brother's DNA, and the result great!

I could tell.

I've been trapped here ever since, slowly growing my magic each day. After a week had passed I saw that stupid party you all had, so I decided to throw one of my own, by causing havoc across the Crystal lands.





"I plan to wipe you clean from existence," He pointed to Spike. "And brainwash you." He pointed to Armak. "Then, I'll impersonate Spike, and at the right time, take over Equestria!"

The two he pointed to growled.

"And now I've seen that you both created a portal for me to go back to Equestria. Thank you both so much. Family love is the greatest love. Well... tied with Sweetie Belle love, but still great none the less."

"Don't you dare... say you love Sweetie Belle!"

"Oh? But we're the same? We're one. Don't you get it?"

"Sweetie Belle would never love you."

"I think somedragon's getting jealous." Dark Spike said with a smirk.

Spike roared with anger and rushed Dark Spike, he landed a punch straight in his stomach which made him fly back. Spike flew fast to follow his flying opponent, and when he neared him he pinned him down to the floor.

Spike then started to rapidly punch the dark force, each hit landing on his face.

Armak flew over. "Woah, note to self: don't insult Sweetie Belle."

After a few more punches Dark Spike roared and kicked Spike off of him. He got up and locked claws with Spike.

Each tried to push back with a grunt, neither dragon gave up.

Armak stared in awe, but he noticed something above the two.

It looked like some kind of rip in the air. Like clothes being ripped and it's cotton being exposed.

He gasped when he saw what emerged from within the tear.

It was Discord.

Spike and Dark Spike paused and looked up.

"Discord." 

"What are you doing here?" Spike asked.

"Oh! What's this?" Discord looked at Dark Spike. "I didn't know you had a twin brother, Spike."

"Wh-What?" 

Dark Spike started to laugh uncontrollably, the same with Armak.

"No seriously, who are you?"

Dark Spike bowed. "A Dark Magic spell who took Spike's DNA for his own. Greetings Master Of Chaos."

"Oh, I love the manners."

"You're not surprised?" Spike asked.

"I'm the Master Of Chaos, and I lived for thousands of years," He explained. "I've seen more."

"Idiot." 

Spike grunted and pushed his counterpart back, ending their lock. "Can you help us defeat him?"

"Oh I would, but I came to deliver a message." Discord said. "I want you all to know that whatever happens in the future there are no hard feelings. And we'll always be friends." He smiled. "I could probably take on Armak but... Spike could undoubtedly beat me by himself."

"O...kay?" 

"Great!" Discord snapped his talon and a smoothie appeared. He started to sip from the straw afterwards.

Everyone, including Dark Spike, looked shocked.

"How did you use magic?!"

"I can explain." Discord poofed up a monocle. "Way back before, I got transported here without being able to do anything at all. Since I had control of coming here this time I used my magic to tear a small incy wincy hole into this world using that portal you've got back there." He pointed to the direction of the portal.

"So that's where the portal is." Dark Spike whispered to himself.

"And since the hole was open, I made it so we could use our magic." He finished.

"So why did you-" Spike got blasted by Dark Spike.

"It wasn't easy sensing you all. I had to search from Ponyville to Canterlot. Then from cities to wastelands. Inside of Equestria, to outside. Then I started searching through worlds and... bam I found you all!"

Dark Spike raised a claw at Discord. "While that story was great and all, I need you gone." He fired.

Discord gasped and snapped his fingers. He poofed away.

His voice echoed in the air. "I'll fight you another time Spike's twin. Ta ta!"

Dark Spike grunted. "Fine! I'll just defeat these two then I'll go back to Equestria and fulfill my plan." He charged two dark sparking beams in his claws. "Are you both ready? Well, I sure am HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
> Back To Equestria
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Explosions. That was all the Crystal Creatures could hear. Each one of them hoping that Spike would stop this monster.

The battle grew consistent. Spike and Dark Spike's powers would be equal, but Armak would get thrown around like a toy.

"So my traitorous dad? How shall I dispose of you?" Dark Spike said while walking slowly towards him.

"How am I a traitor?" Armak replied.

Dark Spike chuckled. "Don't you remember all those fun times back when we were destroying Equestria, when we made ponies fear us?"

"Armak's changed now. He's a different stallion."

"I believe that's the truth, er... what should I call you...?"

"Why don't you call me... Darkness."

"Darkness?" Armak and Spike asked at the same time.

Darkness shrugged. "I was made out of Dark Magic."

"Makes sense." Spike pointed out.

Darkness teleported directly in front of Spike. "It does, doesn't it?!" And he attempted a punch.

Spike barely managed to dodge and fired a blast from his palm.

Darkness fired his own blast and the two collided.

Armak teleported from above and fired multiple beams at Darkness.

Darkness mocked Armak and ran to dodge instead of flying. He suddenly teleported behind Armak and released a blast on the dark alicorn's back.

Armak got sent flying away, screaming while doing so.

Spike was about to fly in but stopped when he saw something from the corner of his eye. "Cry-Crystal Shine?!" He looked closer and saw that she was running towards him with worry. 

He grew a serious face and teleported to her. 

When he suddenly appeared in front of Crystal Shine, she gasped. "Y-You're able to use your magic?!"

"Crystal Shine," Spike ignored her statement. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous!"

"Prince Spike, I have urgent news! Equestria is in great danger!"

"What happened?!" 

"There's this being, a centaur by the name of Lord Tirek. With the help of Discord, he stole the magic of ponies and grew strong enough to overpower the alicorns."

Armak, who listened in on the conversation, spoke up, "Tirek?! When I was a just little colt, he was in our history books."

Armak got blasted away by Darkness and he asked, "Interesting. What's the current state of Equestria?"

Crystal Shine, feeling confused by a second Spike, answered. "He currently has the magic of the Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth ponies. The three alicorns transferred their magic to Princess Twilight so Tirek would be unable to get it. He just recently acquired the magic of the Element Bearers excluding Princess Twilight." She explained.

Darkness gave no response, instead, he was in deep thought.

"Wait, how do Pegasi and Earth ponies have magic?" Spike asked.

"Princess Celestia explained how Pegasi have the magic of flight, letting them change the weather and stand on clouds. Earth ponies have the magic of strength, letting them tame the lands to grow food." Crystal Shine said.

"I just had the greatest idea EVER!"

Spike, Armak, and Crystal Shine stared at Darkness, who laughed maniacally.

"Discord said the portal was in that direction didn't he?" He activated his wings and flew fast towards where the gateway was.

"Oh no! Whatever he's planning shouldn't be good."

"Well come on!" Armak flared his wings. "Let's chase after him!" He gave a powerful flap and flew off.

Spike activated his wings and took off as well.

Crystal Shine placed her hands together and prayed.





Tirek sat in front of the cage which held the weak-looking Mane Five, waiting impatiently.

He was much larger. His gray mane and bear were puffier, and the cuffs on his wrists were gone. His horns were longer as well.

Discord abruptly appeared with a flash.

"Where have you been?" Tirek asked as he got up.

"Oh, nothing much. I just had a little chat the dragon and fifth alicorn. They are busy at the moment but will arrive soon."

Tirek huffed. "So these five? Do you think Princess Twilight will do anything for them?"

"If Twilight has magic to give, it will be yours. Soon there won't be a Pegasus, Earth Pony, or Unicorn who will be able to stand up against us."

"Us?" Tirek said with a smirk. "Who said anything about "us"?" He charged his horn.

"You did." Discord said confusedly.

Tirek encased Discord with his magic. "You've helped me grow strong. You've provided the means by which I can obtain Princess Twilight's magic."

Discord looked back at the Mane Five.

"And now you are no longer of any use to m-"

A rainbow beam cut of Tirek by pushing him away from Discord.

Discord, who fell because Tirek's magic ended, looked to his left to see none other than Twilight with a furious face.

"Twilight!' Her friends yelled in happiness.

Twilight's horn flashed and the cage that held her friends broke.

"I've had enough time to practice with my magic a bit. Are you all okay?" She asked as she walked up to them.

Her friends all said that they were alright and she looked back to see Discord approach her.

"You saved me... Thank you, Twilight." He said with a voice of gratitude.

Twilight smiled. "You're welcome."

"After the way he has betrayed you, you save him? What? Next you are going to call him a "friend"?"

Twilight looked at Tirek who was walking towards them with a stomp to his step with a serious expression. "My brother Spike taught me something. He taught me about forgiveness and that you have to earn it. Discord may have to earn his trust back, but I believe in him." Twilight gave a smirk.

"Your brother? Hmph, I don't care. You are going to give me what I want." He charged his magic between his horns and opened his mouth.

Twilight and Discord acted quickly. With a snap and a purple spark, they teleported everyone out of Tirek's reach.

They all appeared back in Twilight's library, on a high balcony.

The lavender alicorn used a telescope to see Tirek off in the distance, who fired a magma sphere at the Library.

Discord snapped his talon and a huge cannon appeared, making Tirek's magic blast fly into it.

Tirek looked confused.

Discord had a serious look on his face and he said, "Back at you!"

Tirek's magic blast shot out of the cannon and flew towards its original user.

TIrek roared in rage and caught the sphere which pushed him back a bit, eating it soon after. He smiled.

Twilight's wings flared and she teleported above Tirek. She charged her horn and released a huge rainbow beam of magic.

Tirek crossed his arms in front of him and created a magma-colored shield with his magic, protecting him from the beam.

Twilight's beam then made a burst, and it grew bigger.

Even thought Tirek was protecting himself, he got pushed back by the beam. He teleported away right before the beam exploded, and glared at the alicorn.

Twilight glared back.

"Yeah! You show him Twilight!" Rainbow yelled as the others stared at Twilight in awe.

"How does she have so much magic?!" Rarity asked.

"Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence gave Twilight their alicorn magic so Tirek wouldn't be able to steal it." Discord told.

"So that's why Twilight was flying so fast before."

"It seems that Tirek noticed it as well." Discord pointed out.

Tirek was smiling. "Now I understand what your fellow princesses have done." 

Twilight charged her horn, but before she or Tirek was able to do anything Discord appeared behind Tirek and poofed up a huge balloon bat.

"Batter's up!" He yelled as he struck Tirek with the giant balloon bat.

Surprisingly, Tirek got knocked back a good amount of distance. "What?" He said, shocked as he rubbed his cheek.

"Chaos is great isn't it?" Discord said.

Tirek roared with rage and fired a beam at Discord, who just vanished with a flash. He looked around for either Twilight or Discord.

It was then he was hit with two beams from below.

Twilight and Discord stood from below. One firing a rainbow beam, the other firing pure white light.

Tirek screamed and used his hand to push away the two beams. He used his magic to levitate the alicorn and draconequus and threw them away.

They both screamed and soon hit a mountain, cushioned by Twilight's magic.

The next thing they heard was a scream, and they saw a raging Tirek flying towards them.

Discord snapped his talon and a trampoline appeared with a flash in front of them blocking their view from Tirek.

Tirek's eyes widened and he got bounced back by the trampoline and crashed to the ground causing the earth to pile up.

Twilight teleported the two to the ground safely but soon realized their mistake.

A plasma beam cut around the area and Tirek lifted the cutoff ground on top of him. He threw it away with Twilight and Discord standing on it.

The ground he threw crashed but the two who were standing on it flew out of the way safely.

Tirek scream as he smashed the ground with his arms and with an orange glow the ground formed into pillars which blocked Twilight and Discord's way.

Discord poofed up a giant potato masher in his talon and he mashed the pillars down as they engaged.

Tirek released a powerful beam and so did Twilight. Discord snapped his talon and teleported away.

The two beams collided and caused a massive explosion.

When the dust from the explosion cleared, Tirek pushed some of the debris off of him.

Twilight walked up to him and glared. Discord teleported beside Twilight with a flash and crossed his arms with a serious look.

"It appears we are at an impasse."

"It seems." Discord said.

"If only I still had those other five," Tirek whispered to himself.

Discord looked to his right.

"What is it Discord?" Twilight whispered.

"It's... Spike!"

"What? Really?!"

"Yes and... oh no..."

"What is it-"

Tirek screamed and fired a blast at the two.

Discord quickly snapped his talon and teleported them both.

Twilight found herself back at Ponyville. She looked at Discord. "What was that about?"

"No time to explain. Look!" Discord pointed off in the direction.

Twilight squinted her eyes and smiled brightly. "Spike!" She flew towards him.

Discord gasped and teleported in front of Twilight, stopping her. "No!"

Twilight looked worried and asked, "Tell me what's going on."

"That there is Spike's dark personality. He was created when Armak first used his Dark Magic to take control of Spike. He recently used Spike's DNA to create a body for himself."

Twilight looked behind Discord. "And that's... Spike and Armak?!"

Discord looked behind himself and saw the two, he snapped his talon and they teleported behind Spike and Armak with a flash.

"Finally, we caught up to you!" Armak yelled.

"What's going on Spike?"

Spike looked at Twilight and Discord. "Discord! Twilight! That guy over there wants to impersonate me and take over Equestria!" Spike pointed to Darkness. 

"He now goes by the name of "Darkness"," Armak explained.

"So now there's two of you Spike?!" 

"Basically, he has the same powers as me and even some Dark Magic," He explained.

"Well well well, look who decided to show up. Discord himself and Twilight The Slavedriver."

Twilight tried her best to hold back her tears.

"What do you want?" Discord asked.

"Me? Oh, first I'm going to do what I failed to do the last time I was here." He raised a claw and shot a beam at the library.

Twilight gasped and used her magic to teleport her five friends and Owlowiscious out of the library.

The beam hit the library, destroying it.

The Mane Six, Spike, and Discord all gasped.

"Since Spike himself didn't destroy it, it can't be reversed by a spell like he did last time." Armak thought.

Darkness started to laugh.

Twilight growled and was about to pounce him when they all felt something shaking the ground.

"Oh no, it's Tirek!" Twilight said.

After a few moments, Tirek arrived. He inspected the area. "The fifth alicorn, and the powerful... dragons?"

"It seems we have a visitor." Darkness walked up to Tirek. "Oh great Lord Tirek, I would love to join you and your quest to rule Equestria!"

"What?" Everyone except Tirek yelled.

Tirek laughed. "You have no use to me. But your magic does." He charged his magic and began to inhale.

"I could say the same thing!" Darkness laughed like crazy and flew up to Tirek. 

What he did next shocked everyone there, especially Tirek.

He flew into his mouth.

Darkness seemingly crashed into the back of Tirek's throat, telling by the short-lived lump.

After Darkness was seemingly eaten, Tirek started to breathe in and out harshly. He stood there for a second but then suddenly, his eyes glowed yellow very brightly, and the others watched in horror as Tirek grew much larger with orange sparks. Tirek screamed as he grew taller than the trees in the Everfree forest, he then grew taller than Twilight's library before it got destroyed. Spikes appeared at the sides of his horns, and soon he grew bigger than Canterlot Castle.

"Yes!" He yelled demonically.

He then finally stopped growing and looked down at the horrified watchers with a smile. "And now... you're next!"
> Goodbye New Enemy, Hello New Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Theme: 



"This power... it's enormous!" Tirek said in amazement looking at himself. "I never knew such a power existed. It's much more than those filthy princesses and Ruler of Chaos."

Tirek scanned the now slightly cowering ponies, draconequus, and dragon. "This dragon had so much power. I can't pass this opportunity to see if his twin brother has as much."

Spike gulped when Tirek stared at them with his glowing eyes.

"Now you all are next."

"You already have so much magic! What do you want with even more?!" Armak yelled.

Tirek crossed his arms. "All of this magic belong to me."

Armak growled. "In your dreams!"

Twilight teleported the all of them out to the wastelands not too far from Ponyville. "We can't fight him near Ponyville! He's too big!" She explained.

"He's way too powerful. Can we even fight him at all?" Spike asked.

"We have to. He'll just track us down if we don't." Armak said.

"Well, does anyone have a way to stop him?!" Twilight was about to hyperventilate.

The other Element Bearers didn't know what to do.

"I can propose a solution."

All eyes looked at Discord.

"We obviously can't beat him by force-"

"OB-VI-OUS-LY!" Rarity yelled.

Discord frowned but continued. "But, we could beat him by extracting his stolen magic from him, rendering him powerless."

"But where will that magic go? Equestria needs it back." Twilight said.

"Magic can't just disappear, and clearly we're going to find a way to give it back."

"Aren't you the Embodiment Of Chaos? Haven't you changed Equestria into a checkerboard before?" Armak asked.

"Your point being...?"

"You should be able to do something!" Armak yelled.

"I'm afraid even Tirek had grown too powerful for me." Discord said sadly.

"Is that so?"

With a blast of flames, Tirek appeared in front of all of them.

Twilight quickly teleported all of her defenseless friends away safely.

The four left standing took their fighting stance.

Tirek chuckled. "Do you really believe you can beat me?"

"Discord, can you perform the spell to take away his magic?" Twilight whispered.

"...No."

"What?!" All yelled.

"It would use too much magic to do it! I don't want to di-"

Tirek yelled and fired a magma sphere at all of them.

They all dodged with teleportation.

Tirek suddenly clutched his chest. "What... is this... pain...?"

"He he he..."

"What?" Tirek rubbed his thumb in his ear. "Am I hearing things? It sounded like-"

"Hello, buddy!" Darkness abruptly shouted in Tirek head.

"Wha- You- ...How?!"

"What do you mean how? I literally jumped into your mouth."

"What do you want?" Tirek boomed.

"You made me really sad that you didn't want to work with me, so I'm taking your body."

"...WHAT?!"

Darkness started to laugh.

"You can stay in my head if you'd like and watch Equestria burn. But there's no way I'm letting you take over MY body and MY magic."

"Oh yeah? Well, try and stop me. As we speak-"

Tirek gave a powerful roar.

"Anyways... -Gragh!"

Four powerful beams hit Tirek dead in the face. Tirek screamed and pushed back at the beams with his hands. He fired an enormous plasma beam afterward.

Spike flew in the air to dodge, he flew back down and tried to strike at Tirek's forehead.

The minotaur grabbed Spike and reached out for Discord. He used them as bats to hit Armak and Twilight, then threw them away harshly.

Spike and Discord created two craters on the surface. Before Discord could get up, however, he got encased in Tirek's magic and was brought up to him.

Tirek started to inhale and take his magic, making Discord scream in agony.

Twilight and Armak flew up and shot beams at Tirek, canceling his magic stealing.

Discord dropped and got up weakly.

"Discord, are you alright?" Spike asked when he flew down to him.

"He... took about a third of my magic... But I'll be fine."

Meanwhile, Tirek was about to fire another blast when he got another sting, this one in his head.

"Having fun without me I see."

Tirek growled. "I'm not letting you have what I worked so hard to gain." 

"Really now? You've been doing great so far." Tirek could hear Darkness clapping in his head.

"Stop clapping!" Tirek was annoyed.

"What's the matter with him?" Twilight asked.

"Oh stop with this foolishness. I know your kind. Thinking that, they are above all others. Thinking that, they are all powerful. Thinking that, they're a GOD."

Tirek growled.

"So tell me Lord Tirek. How does a god feel when he is overpowered by a little dragon inside his head?"

"I will never have that feeling you ignorant fool."

"Let me tell you the difference between you and me, Tirek. You think that you're all powerful, but I KNOW that I'm above all others."

"And that's why I have YOUR power?" Tirek said with a smirk.

"Nope."

Tirek felt like his chest exploded. He grabbed it and yelled in pain.

"That's why I have YOUR power!" As Darkness laughed maniacally, Tirek screamed at the top of his lungs.

The others were taken aback by this. 

"What's happening to him?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know!" Spike replied.

Tirek's eyes and ears poured out dark mist, the spikes on his horns became sharper, and he was sweating.

The mist soon covered Tirek's huge form, and when it disappeared, Tirek could be seen with no pupils. Instead, his eyes glowed lime green, and his body resonated a dark green aura.

"T-Tirek?" Twilight looked horrified.

"Tirek" started to laugh. "I'm sorry, sister. This is not your good ol' Tirek." It said in it's demonic voice.

"Oh no..." Armak was now scared.

"Equestria! I'M BAAAACK!"

Twilight growled and flew up to try and put a stop to this madness. Far before she reached, however, Darkness, using the power of Tirek's stolen magic, shot a dark green beam at Twilight, and it hit. This resulted in Twilight being sent back down to the ground creating a large crater.

"Twilight!" Her fellow Element Bearers all came in worry.

"Looks like the whole party's here now."

Discord shot his eyes at the others with a serious face. "If we don't get that spell ready then all of us are doomed!" He yelled.

"We... We don't have enough magic." Armak said sadly.

Discord growled. "T-Then we can't do anything?" He put his arms down in defeat and soon walked over to Twilight with a sad face. 

He sighed. "Tirek, before he got taken over by that guy, tricked me into believing that he could offer me something more valuable than friendship. But there is nothing worth more. I see that now. He lied when he said that this medallion was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of our true friendship, I am telling the truth." He used his claw and paw to put the medallion around Twilight's neck.

The medallion gave a rainbow glow that her friends knew well.

"You think that might be the last one we need?" Applejack asked.

"We have to get to the chest," Twilight said determinedly.

"You all go. We will hold back... him."

Twilight gave a nod and started to run to the Tree Of Harmony.

Discord turned to the monster with a scowl. 

"She getting away with all the Alicorn Magic!"

"Oh, you're still here?"

"You can't just get rid of me."

"Yay! Headmate."

"Are you going to just let them get away."

"Who cares. I'm-" 

Spike and Armak began to fire multiple blasts at Darkness.

"That-" *ZAP!* "Isn't-" *ZAP* "FAIR!" *ZAP!* *ZAP!* *ZAP!*

Discord flew up, and with the magic he had left, he poofed up a cannon and started to fire jelly beans out of it.

*ROAR!*

Somehow, he roared like a dragon with Tirek's body, and the force was powerful enough to send the other three flying.





The Mane Six were all in the cave surrounding the blue chest. The medallion Discord gave turned into a key which inserted itself into its respective keyhole. They heard massive explosions and thumping from the above battle.

"Together! I think we have to do this together!"

So they did, they all turned their keys at the exact same time opening the chest. Right after, a rainbow flew out of the chest, amazing the Mane Six. The rainbow hit the center of the Tree Of Harmony, where Twilight's cutie mark was. Inside the tree, the rainbow connected with all of the other's cutie marks, each one of them glowing when connected.

A beam of light then came down on each of the Mane Six. And they traveled inside the chest.

That's where their transformations happened. All of their manes and tails grew much larger, and more bright colors appeared on them.

While in a huge rainbow sphere, they all rose up and entered the battlefield. They could see Spike and Armak trying to push back Darkness with their magic but failing.

That was when Discord saw them. "Look!" He pointed.

Darkness looked up with widened eyes. "That's the... YOU SACRIFICED THE ELEMENTS! HOW ARE YOU USING THAT POWER!?"

"The magic of friendship is endless. We do not just keep it within the elements!" Twilight shot back.

"Defeat them you fool!"

"Hmm, Nope."

"What?!"

"I've lost this fight."

"What are you saying? They have no magic!"

"He he he... That power can't be stolen from them Tirek. Nor can it be defeated."

"YOU FOOL!"

Darkness watched as a rainbow beam came down and hit him. Making Tirek's body start to shrink and get weaker.

"You win this round. But you can never get rid of me."

And with that last sentence out of Tirek's mouth, he vanished.

As soon as Tirek got his body back he started to scream in misery. All of his stolen magic was being extracted from him.

He gradually shrank down, going into his previous forms until his weakest. The next thing he could see was himself in a cage in Tartarus.

Back in Equestria, the Mane Six started to travel around Equestria with a rainbow trailing behind them, giving the magic back to its owners.

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity gave back the unicorn magic.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy gave back the pegasi their flight.

And Applejack, as well as Pinkie Pie, gave the earth ponies their strength.

Somewhere in Tartarus, the three elder princesses were freed from their prison and was given back their magic. They were headed back to Equestria.

The Mane Six were taken back to the cave which held the Tree Of Harmony. The chest closed and rode a newly formed rainbow to Ponyville. The chest sunk deep into the ground like a seed and it sprouted a big blue and purple crystal castle.

The Mane Six were then teleported in front of the castle and went back into their regular forms.

They all looked at the castle in complete shock.

"Sweet Celestia! Are you all seeing what I'm seeing?" Rarity asked.

"But... whose is it?" Twilight asked.

"I believe it is yours, Princess Twilight." They all looked back to see the two alicorn sisters, Princess Cadence, Spike, Armak, and Discord. All smiling at them.

They could all be seen walking through the interiors of the castle the next minute.

"Hey! I got a second chance. Why not let Tirek have another one?" Armak asked,

"...Why do you say this?"

"Well, I need more guy friends! All I have right now is Spike... and Discord."

"Perhaps that may be a possibility in the future, but anyways..." Celestia stared at the youngest alicorn. "Twilight, you've been wondering what you are meant to do as a princess. Do you know now?" Celestia asked.

Twilight thought for a second, then replied. "As princess, I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria. That is the role I am meant to have in our world! The role I choose to have!" She teleported to her friends. "But I didn't defeat Tirek on my own, it took all of us to unlock the chest!"

"Then it is unlikely you are meant to take on this task alone." Celestia used her magic to open the huge doors.

The Mane Six gasped in awe when they saw what was behind it.

"You are now Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship." 

It was a huge throne room with seven identical thrones in a circular layout. The only difference in the thrones was that there were the Mane Six's cutie marks and a claw mark symboling whose throne is who's.

Spike and the Mane Six sat on their respective thrones.

"But what is the princess of friendship without her friends?"

Twilight and Spike saw Discord and Armak being left out. Purple magic surrounded Armak and green surrounded Discord. The magic carried them to the group, from which all of them hugged.

"Baw! I don't get a throne even, after all, the good things I've done." Armak growled.

"Yeah! Where's my throne?" Discord asked.

Fluttershy flew up to come face to face with Discord. "I don't think you're quite there yet," She said kindly.

"Yes, well, I suppose not," He said while chuckling.

"Hey, look! Ponies have come to see the castle." Spike pointed down from a window.

Twilight ran up to the front door and started to sing-

"Nope."

"What Armak?" Asked Twilight.

"Nope."

"Nope?" Luna was confused along with the rest.

"No singing. Nope."

Everypony was raising an eyebrow except for Spike, Discord, and some other stallions who knew where this was going.

"Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope..."

Twilight, Celestia, and the others just stood there in confusion.





"He he he- You know what? Screw that creepy laugh. Ho ho ho..." 

"Oh Spikey Wikey. You can celebrate now, but soon, you'll know nothing but despair and hopelessness."

"The next time we meet..."


Next Time On Season Spike


Spike's Hearts And Hooves day is going great. Sweetie Belle's happy, he's happy, and nothing world threatening is happening.
Sweetie's is going great too, but she has more on her to-do list. She has to find a gift for Spike, shake off Spike's "assassin", and introduce her drakefriend to her parents.

> [Episode 5: Hearts And Claws Day] Finding a Gift
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A lot has happened over the past two months. Twilight and her friends seemingly got their cutie marks taken away and given back, Sweetie and her friends met and befriended Appleoosa's most wanted, the second disastrous, but entertaining Gala was held, a donkey's wedding almost became a disaster that no pony noticed, the Grand Equestria Pony Summit which went seemingly well... except for the fact that Armak had to help keep Twilight asleep. Twilight's reunion with her long friend Moon Dancer, a massive dream party type... thing, the Sisterhooves Social which was pretty entertaining, and most importantly, the Cutie Mark Crusader's destinies were revealed, and they got their cutie marks!

One more thing, the Ponyville library got destroyed by m- ...my darker self... Twilight and I were really sad at first, but we've adapted to our new home, the Friendship Castle.

Nowadays, time in Equestria is moving rather slowly for us. But it's very peaceful so no pony or dragon is complaining.





Sweetie Belle walked through the streets of Ponyville. She looked left and right trying to spot anything that would be perfect.

After looking through the various stands of things she didn't find anything. But she did not give up there.

"I already looked through Rarity's chest to find any gems. I also looked through her secret stash spot... and her final resort."

Sweetie Belle stopped and put a hoof to her chin in thought. After a couple minutes of thinking, she decided she would go to the most expensive shops around Ponyville. She would find something and get Rarity to buy it, no biggie.

After ten minutes of searching through the fancy shops, she found nothing.

She saw multiple clothing but it was all for ponies. The gems there were already used, and she doubted that Spike would like perfume.

"Maybe I could try getting him a..." She was lost. 

Suddenly, Sweetie cleared her throat and shouted, "Discord!"

On cue, the former chaos maker appeared in a flash, making some ponies nearby become uneasy. He was on a red couch reading a book called, "Equestria's Enemies".

"What is it?" He asked without taking his eyes off the book. He was currently in a certain centaur section, with Changelings at the next page.

"Do you know any gifts I could get Spike for Hearts And Hooves Day?"

"Isn't that today?"

"Umm yeah, but I kinda got sidetracked a bit," She replied adorably.

"Oh, no worries."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

"Hmm..." Discord put a talon to his chin in thought. "To be honest, love isn't really my thing. Cadence would be your best bet, but I could propose an item."

"What is it?"

"A gem cak-"

"No! That's just a little thing. Spike deserves more!"

Discord sighed. "Well I'm sorry, I can't really think of anything." A watch appeared on Discord's leg. "I'm on a tight schedule, I'll see you later Sweetie." And with that, he flashed away.

Sweetie sighed. "Bye..."





Meanwhile

Twilight trotted up to Spike's room in their big castle and knocked. "Spike? Are you okay-"

The door suddenly slammed open in green magic to reveal a hyperventilating Spike.

"...Spike?"

"Twilight! Oh, thank Celestia! I don't think I'm going to survive!" He looked very nervous.

"Spike," Twilight chuckled. "What's got you so worked up?"

"Me? Worked up? I'm not worked up! Who's worked up-"

"Spike! You have to calm down. Here, Cadence taught me this technique." Twilight started to inhale slowly, and Spike soon followed. She then exhaled, and Spike again followed motion.

Spike did it a few more times until he finally collected himself.

"Okay. Now do you want to tell me what's going on?" She asked with a warm smile.

Spike sighed. "Sweetie Belle said that she was going to get me to meet her parents."

Twilight was silent for a second, then started to burst out laughing. "You're nervous for that? Haha!"

"W-What if they don't approve of me being her drakefriend? What if they don't like dragons!" He gasped. "What if Sweetie gets in trouble because of me?!"

This caused Twilight to laugh harder, there were even tears running down her face.

Spike frowned. "You're not helping!"

"Sorry, sorry..." Twilight wiped away a tear. "Spike. You are known all around Equestria as a hero. There's no way her parents would look down on you."

"I... yeah, maybe."

She wrapped a wing around Spike. "You're acting worse than I do." She giggled.

Spike giggled as well. "Yeah, I guess so."

Twilight nuzzled Spike. "I know they'll like you. You just have to believe in yourself."

Spike smiled. "Thanks, Twilight."

"Well, you should get ready for your cute little date with Sweetie Belle." This caused Spike to blush. "I'll let you get to it." And Twilight walked out of Spike's room.





Sweetie Belle sat on a park bench. She rested her cheeks on her hoofs and was in deep thought.

"How come I can't think of anything to get him?" She gasped. "What if Spike thinks I don't care about him anymore... No, that's silly!" She smiled to herself. "We already solved that little issue." She went back to thinking. "Maybe I should go look around again-"

"Hi, there!"

"Ah!" Sweetie panicked a bit.

"Sorry." The voice was one of a filly's that squeaked like Sweetie Belle's. The filly giggled. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Sweetie inspected the filly. She was a unicorn with a blue coat and green eyes. Her straight mane was a darker shade of blue, and her long tail was the same.

The filly hopped next to Sweetie Belle. "I saw you all sad and stuff so I came to cheer you up. But then I got confused because you started laughing, and then you started to think again, and..."

"Boy, this filly talks a lot. Almost as much as Pinkie Pie."

"...But then I finally told myself to come and be of service!" The filly gasped. "Oh! My name is Sweet Heart! What's yours?" She gave Sweetie a toothy smile.

"My name is Sweetie Belle. Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, Sweetie Belle. So? What's the matter?"

Sweetie sighed. "I'm trying to find a Hearts And Hooves day gift for my drakefriend."

"You mean coltfriend, right?" Sweet Heart said with a giggle.

"Nope. I'm in love with Spike!" Sweetie said happily.

"...Who's Spike?"

Sweetie Belle blinked. "Say what now?"

"Who's this Spike pony?"

"How don't you know him?! He's the prin-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's go get that gift!" Before Sweetie could say anything, Sweet Heart took her hoof and ran off with her.

In ten minutes, they were at the arts and crafts shop. 

"Why are we here?" Sweetie asked.

"The bestest gifts come from the heart. Something that's one of a kind made with love."
Sweet Heart explained.

"I was trying to find something one of a kind all morning!" Sweetie exclaimed.

"No, this is something that you make. Something that you make with love."

"I don't get it."

"Like... A poster, or big card!"

"But Spike deserves more than just a stupid card."

"You might think that. But Spike wants nothing more than your love for him. That's what counts."

"Sooo... Just a card?"

"Of course not just a card. You decorate it and make it lovely."

"So like glitter and stuff?"

"Yup!"

Sweetie sighed. "I'm not sure about this, but I'll give it a shot."

"Trust me, your coltfriend will love it."

"Drakefriend." She tried to correct.

"Yeah, whatever his fantasy name is." Sweet Heart started to push Sweetie into the shop.

Sweetie rolled her eyes and hoped that this hyper filly was going in the right direction.





"Wow, this actually looks great!" Sweetie beamed as she held out her pink and green card.

"Told ya!"

"You sure know a lot about love and stuff."

"Of course, I do. Look!" She showed Sweetie her behind which where her cutie mark was.

Her mark was a red heart which had a blue ribbon wrapped around it.

"Woah. Cool cutie mark!"

"My special talent is to help others with their love problems. One day I'm going to rise up into the ranks and become Princess Cadance's prodigy. Maybe even replace her!" She smiled, but surprisingly grew a frown after. 

Noticing her sad expression, Sweetie asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm dreaming too big aren't I?" She sighed.

"N-No, if you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything!" Sweetie reassured.

"So you think that one day I can replace Princess Cadance?"

"Yeah, probably, who knows what could happen. Maybe Cadence will get tired of her job or something."

Sweet Heart smiled. "Thanks, Sweetie Belle."

"No problem. Hey! I should show you to my friends!"

"Really?"

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, they would love to meet you."

"Okay, let's go!" She grabbed Sweetie's hoof and ran off with her. Even though she didn't know where and who Sweetie's friends were.

> Introductions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After ten minutes of searching everywhere and getting greeted by Pinkie Pie, Sweet Heart gave up and Sweetie finally led them both in the right direction to her friends. 

As they approached the clubhouse, Sweet Heart asked, "Woah, this is your friend's house?!"

Sweetie laughed and replied, "No. This is our clubhouse! My friend technically owns it, but she shares it with us."

"Wow! I always wanted my own clubhouse. How do you know if they're there or not?"

"They told me that after I'm done getting a gift for Spike, to come over and play," She explained.

They walked up the steps and Sweetie opened the door. "Hey, girls!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo turned and smiled. "Hey, Sweetie Belle!" They said in sync.

Sweetie Belle walked in. Following behind her was a hyper filly bouncing into the clubhouse.

"Who's your new friend?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Girls, this is Sweet Heart. Sweet Heart, these are my friends." Sweetie pointed to said friends.

"Hello, I'm Apple Bloom."

"And I'm Scootaloo."

"Hi, I'm Sweet Heart!" 

"Sweet Heart is new in Ponyville. One, because she said so. And two, Pinkie's going to throw a party for her!"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo rolled their eyes.

"Woah!"

"What?" Scootaloo asked.

"You all have the same Cutie Marks!"

The three smiled and hugged each other. "That's because we have the same destiny. To help others find their special talent!" Apple Bloom explained.

"Wow, so cool!"

"So what's happening here, girls?" Sweetie asked. "What should we do today?"

"Well..." Apple Bloom looked at their clock. "It's only twelve. Sweetie has to go see Spike at two, so we can play a bit." Apple Bloom explained.

Sweet Heart gasped. "I know the perfect game we could play!"





"So much for perfect..."

They all walked out of the Everfree forest. The four were covered in swamp slime, with wood chips in their manes, and Rarity would faint if she saw their coats.

"How about we go wash up back at my place, then we go to the park," Scootaloo suggested.

Her companions nodded, one giving a sheepish smile.

After they washed up at Scootaloo's home. They were all riding on a wagon being pulled by Scootaloo and her scooter.

"So..." Apple Bloom started, wanting to start a conversation. "You're new here?"

"Yup! Me, my parents, and grandma moved here. We didn't have enough food where we're from." Sweet Heart replied after chewing on a granola bar.

"Where are ya from?"

"From, *Bite* the badlands. Or whatever you call it here."

"...WHAT?!" The CMC screamed. Scootaloo stopped the scooter with a screech. 

"The badlands. You mean the badlands?"

After Sweet Heart swallowed her bite, she started to explain. "We didn't have enough food like I said. We moved here for better life. Why do you two look like that?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked frightened. 

Scootaloo had a smirk. "If you're from the badlands you must be very tough."

"Not really."

"But you survived! You must have some guts!"

Sweet Heart shrugged. "It was no sweat, but I'm not gonna say I wasn't worried."

"That's still awesome in my book. I can't wait to tell Rainbow Dash about this!" Scootaloo started to pull the wagon again by riding her scooter.

"Who's Rainbow Dash?"

"Just the most awesome pony ever!"

The other two rolled their eyes.

"You'll get used to it." Sweetie said.

Sweet Heart had a smile on her face, but as soon as her new friends weren't looking, that smile turned upside down.

They soon arrived at the park, and the fillies and colts took notice, all smiling when doing so.

"Hey, who's the new kid?" Diamond Tiara asked. 

"Her name's Sweet Heart and she's new to Ponyville."

"Cool! Hey, we're going to play some stallionhunt, wanna play?" A colt by the name of Rumble asked.

"Sure! Let's go!"

"Lastonetothetopoftheslideisit!" Scootaloo ran to the park.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ran past Sweet Heart after taking off their helmets.

Sweet Heart, who didn't react fast enough, yelled, "Hey! No fair!"





After two hours of playing, Sweetie said goodbye to her friends. She found out that Sweet Heart was going to walk in the same direction so they stood together. After some more minutes of walking, Sweet Heart said goodbye to Sweetie Belle and headed off in her own way. Sweetie continued on to the Friendship Castle with her Hearts And Hooves day card in hoof.

She soon arrived and stepped into the castle. She said hello to Twilight and asked her where Spike was. Twilight giggled and told her that he was in his room.

Now Sweetie Belle was outside Spike's room in front of his door. She knocked and heard a shout from inside.

"Come in!"

And Sweetie did just that. "Hi, Spike! Happy Hearts And Hooves day!"

"Oh! Hey, Sweetie! Happy Hearts And Hooves day to you too." Spike put down the Power Ponies comic he was reading and hopped off his bed.

They walked up to each other and hugged.

"I've got something for you." Sweetie said when they released each other. She held out the card she made for Spike. It was in a red envelope.

Spike took the card.

"Open it!" She said happily.

He used his sharp claw to tear the top of the envelope. He pulled the card out and threw the envelope on the ground. Once he opened the card, he grew a big smile.

"You like it?" Sweetie asked with a blush while rubbing her left leg.

The card was pink. Inside was a beautifully drawn purple and green dragon hugging a white unicorn filly inside a glittered heart."Like it? I love it! Thank you, Sweets!" He leaned in and kissed Sweetie Belle on the lips.

Sweetie was taken aback by this but melted into the kiss otherwise.

Their kiss was short-lived when they heard a familiar voice.

"Awww..."

Spike blushed madly was yelled, "Twilight!"

Twilight giggled. "I didn't mean to interrupt sorry but that was so cute," She said with a warm smile.

"You can knock next time!" Sweetie and Spike both stood there flushing.

"I just came to tell you both that there's going to be a Hearts And Hooves slash "New Pony" party tonight at this little filly's house.

"Oh! It's Sweet Heart's family's party. She's my new friend."

"Really? I have to meet her." Spike said.

"Well, I'm going to go do... some princessy stuff. You two have fun!"

Spike and Sweetie waved goodbye.

"So what do you want to do?" Sweetie asked.

"I'm going to treat my little princess to a treat at Sugarcube Corner."

Sweetie beamed. "Really?"

"Yeah. I was going to do this anyways, but now I owe you big time!" Spike held up the card.

"Okay! Let's go."

Spike put his card on his nightstand and went with Sweetie out the castle.

After a couple of minutes of walking, a plastic arrow came whirling in the air and hit the back of Spike's head. It didn't hurt him but Spike still noticed.

"Hey!" He and Sweetie looked back. Spike didn't see anything but Sweetie took notice of a bush rustling. She decided to ignore it and they began to walk forward again.

After a few more minutes, another plastic arrow came flying in aimed at Spike's head. This time, however, Spike caught the arrow without looking back. He dropped the arrow and yelled, "Who's there?"

He received no answer and Sweetie motioned to keep walking.

Again, after a few minutes, an arrow came flying in. 

Spike didn't bother with the arrow and instead focused his magic on the pony who was hiding behind the bushes nearby.

Out flew a brown colt who Sweetie knew as Button Mash. He was wearing a white shirt with an orange collar and had a blue sword in his hoof that looked pixelated.

"Button Maash!" Sweetie whined.

"Hi," *Grunt* "Sweetie!" He tried to escape Spike's hold.

"What are you doing?" Spike asked.

"The ancient scrolls told me that to have one of my own, I must smite the possessor."

Spike was confused. He scratched his head. "And... what does that mean?" He whispered to Sweetie Belle.

"Too much video games." Sweetie deadpanned.

Spike gently dropped Button to the ground. "I don't know what's up, but we'll be on our way." With that, Spike and Sweetie continued off.

"Wait!"

Spike turned around. Sweetie rolled her eyes.

"We didn't fight yet."

The dragon raised an eyebrow. "Is he serious?" He asked Sweetie Belle.

"Yup." She deadpanned yet again.

"If I defeat you, you have to hand over Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie Belle growled quietly. 

"Uhh..." Spike didn't know how to react.

Without warning, Button ran towards Spike with his "weapon" in his mouth. He started to strike at Spike.

All of his attacks hit, he was winning, he was drawing him into the corner. 

Spike was getting hit, he was losing his speed, he was... not moving.

Button stopped and looked at the confused form of Spike.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh! So this is one of those fights where you have to weaken the opponent first. Umm... Prince Spike, what's your weak point?" He mumbled with the sword in his mouth.

Spike just grew more confused and scratched his head again.

Button placed his sword down. "Pleease. I don't want to search it up."

Sweetie sighed and asked. "Button, even if you do manage to defeat Spike, and I one-trillion percent doubt that you can, I still won't be your fillyfriend, no offense. In fact, I'll just hate you." She scolded.

Button gasped. "You put a mind control spell on her? You fiend!"

Sweetie sighed and whispered into Spike's ear. 

Spike nodded happily and with a snap, Button was gone in a green flash.

"Where did you send him?"

"To 'jail'," Spike said with a smirk.

Sweetie grew wide-eyed.

"School," He informed.

A faint screaming of torment could be heard.

"Oh, okay. Let's just go and forget what happened here."

After a couple more minutes of no interruptions. They finally arrived at Sugarcube Corner.

They stepped into the building and Pinkie welcomed them with a warm smile. 

"It's on me," Spike said.

"Aww..." 

Spike growled and Sweetie blushed.

They sat down at their table and began to eat once their food arrived.

They ate and had a friendly conversation about school and life. Then Sweetie said something that made a shiver run down Spike's spine.

"Pinkie said that the party ends before seven. I'll show you to my parents after it."

Spike stopped himself from taking a bite out of his sundae and looked nervous.

"Spike? Something wrong?"

"D-Did you ever think that... there's a possibility that your parent's... wouldn't like me?" He asked.

Sweetie blinked, then snickered, then started to laugh. "That was a good one Spike! Haha!"

Spike just sat there and frowned.
> Hearts And Hooves/ New pony Party! - Pinkamena Diane Pie 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a couple minutes of walking, and Button trying to "defeat" Spike, Spike burped up a letter from Princess Celestia.



Dear Spike,

Come to Canterlot Castle immediately! Luna has a problem and only YOU can fix it. Drop everything as this is VERY important. Nothing is more important than this. 

...What are you waiting for?!



Spike teleported the letter away in a flame and apologized to Sweetie Belle that he had to go, but will be back in time to meet her parents. Sweetie understood completely and let him go off.

As Sweetie watched Spike fly away, she smiled and thought, "Hey, at least, I managed to give him my gift. He really did love it, just like Sweet Heart said-"

*Spark*

Sweetie winced and grew annoyed. "Stupid horn..." She grumbled.





Later in the afternoon, a house was decorated with party streamers, banners, and confetti. But this was nothing compared to what Pinkie could have done. The only thing that stopped her was Twilight who didn't want to scare away the new family living in Ponyville.

Ponies were starting to arrive. And soon the whole house started to fill up.

The purple house was an average size for a Ponyville home. It had three bedrooms that were locked because of the party, a kitchen, two living rooms, four bathrooms and a little basement.

Very soon the party was in full swing. Loud music was playing and kids would occasionally be seen running around chasing each other. 

Sweetie stepped inside the party house not to long ago. She was greeted by Twilight.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle!"

"Hi, Twilight! Did you see Sweet Heart anywhere?"

"Uh... maybe?"

"Maybe?"

"I don't really know what she looks like," Twilight said sheepishly.

"Oh, well I'll find her and introduce you to her. Do you know where Apple Bloom or Scootaloo is?"

"They were at the desert table last time I saw them."

"Okay, thanks!" With that, Sweetie walked off.

Upstairs

The faint music beat from downstairs slightly shook the floor. 

Sweet Heart, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo walked down the hallway until they stopped at a door.

"This is my room!" Sweet Heart said before she opened the door and let them all in.

The room's walls were bright pink. With pictures on the walls containing her family, past friends, and even some pictures of Princess Cadence.

Her bed was an average size for a filly. With a nightstand on each side of it. Her bed was covered with a pink blanket covered with red hearts. On top of the blanket were her red pillows and a brown teddy bear.

"Wow, cool room," Apple Bloom complimented.

Scootaloo made a gagging motion. "Too mushy." She looked over to Sweet Heart with teary eyes. 

"Y-You don't like it?"

Scootaloo's eyes went wide and she shook her hoofs. "No no! It's mushy but... unique! Yeah!"

Sweet Heart lit up a little. "Really?"

"Yeah! Now let's just get back to the food. I'm hungry."

"Okay! Back to the food!"

Sweet Heart turned and headed out the room.

Scootaloo followed but noticed the glare Apple Bloom was giving her.

"What?" She asked.

"Real good first impressions Scoots. Real good."

"I'm sorry, okay."

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "Okay, Scootaloo. Whatever." She started to walk after Sweet Heart.

"You can't get mad at me for my opinions!" Scootaloo said as she chased after her.

"I'm not! I'm getting mad at speaking out your opinions. She's new in Ponyville and I want to make her feel welcome. Not make her cry!"

"Okay, I said I'm sorry. I'll do my best to keep her happy." 

They reached the stairs and started to walk down.

"You better."





Canterlot

Spike flew down on one of the castle's top balconies. He deactivated his wings and stepped inside. He was greeted by some bowing guards as he walked through the halls. He asked them if they knew where Celestia was and they said her bedroom.

Now Spike was walking down the halls towards Celestia's bedroom, until Celestia herself noticed him from another room and walked up to him.

"Hello, Spike. What brings you here?" She asked.

Spike turned. He would have happily greeted her but now he was confused. "What do you mean? You sent me a letter to come over because of Luna's emergency. By the way, what is her emergency?"

Celestia blinked, then face-hoofed.

Spike raised an eyebrow, but both soon raised as he was embraced in a hug. He looked over to see Princess Luna hugging him with closed eyes and a warm smile on her face.

Celestia sighed.

"Uhh... what's going on?"

Luna pouted. "My sister never told me that you were her son."

"..."

"..."

"...What?"

Celestia cleared her throat. "A guard named Ezio explained to Luna that I adopted you as a son after Twilight hatched you from your egg."

"Ohhh..."

"I can't believe you would keep this a secret from me sister."

"I never meant to Luna." Celestia smiled. "But I see that you enjoy your 'new' nephew wholeheartedly."

"Oh, you don't understand it. A cute baby nephew that will live with us for years to come."

Spike started to blush when Luna decided to cradle him. Celestia giggled at this.

"Perhaps he can even accompany me when you're busy, sister." 

Celestia smiled warmly at the scene in front of her. 

"Wait... This is also why you pronounced Spike as a prince, isn't it?" Luna asked.

"Perhaps. But I thought that declaring Spike as a prince because of his relationship with Twilight better suited the situation."

"Well none-the-less, I have a new family member... that isn't a total snob," Luna said. She started to coo to Spike which made him blush more.

"Ahem!"

All heads turned to the dark alicorn who smiled.

"A-Armak!" Spike pushed Luna away to which she frowned at.

"To embarrassed to be with your aunt I see."

"N-No, it's nothing like that Luna. It's just-"

Spike was cut off by Armak's laughing.





"So you're Sweet Heart? Nice to meet you. I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said with a warm smile.

"Hi, Twilight Sparkle."

"'Twilight' is just fine."

"Okay, Twilight."

The two stood in front of the dessert table. Sweetie Belle stood beside Sweet Heart and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood beside Twilight.

"Did you know she's from the badlands?" Scootaloo said suddenly.

Twilight spat out the fruit punch she was drinking. "What?!"

"Sweet Heart said she's from the badlands! And that she moved here for a better life." Apple Bloom explained.

"Oh my goodness. Is your family alright?"

"Yeah. We're all fine. It's not that bad of a place. We just needed food and stuff."

As Twilight tried to figure out some things. Rainbow Dash approached from behind. "Heya squirt, Twilight, girls. What's going on?"

"We told Twilight how mmhmm?"

Sweet Heart stopped Scootaloo's talking with a hoof to her mouth. "It's not that all important," She said angrily to Scootaloo.

"Hey, Sweet Heart. How about you introduce us to your parents?" Twilight asked.

"Okay. They are in the other room." Sweet Heart guided them all to the other room.

There, she asked Pinkie to quiet down the party so she could easily introduce her parents to them.

Pinkie did so with a loud horn.

Once the party quieted down a little, Sweet Heart showed Twilight and her friends to her parents.

"This is my mommy!"

The earth pony was a turquoise mare with sky blue eyes. "Hello there, I'm Sweet Heart's mother, Sweet Grace." She greeted.

"And this is daddy!" The filly said happily.

"Hello there. Sharp Air is the name." The green pegasus with a spikey dark green mane said. 

"Cool. Name's Rainbow Dash." Rainbow walked up to him and bumped hoofs.

"You look like a fast flyer. Are you?" He said with a smirk.

Rainbow Dash flared her wings. "Fast is not the end of it."

Sweet Heart guided Twilight to her grandmother. "This is grandma! She's really good at magic and stuff."

"Oh? Really?" Twilight walked up to the old orange mare who had closed eyes in a rocking chair. "Hello! I'm Twilight Sparkle."

The old mare barely opened her eyes. "Eh? What was that?" She said creakily.

Twilight cleared her throat and said a little bit louder, "I'm Twilight Sparkle! Your granddaughter told me that you were talented at magic."

"Ah yes. This old girl studied for years upon years about magic. Heh heh." She smiled.

"Wow really?! I could say I've done the same."

While Sweet Heart introduced her family to other ponies, Sweetie Belle walked over to the fruit punch bowl about to pour a glass for herself but stopped when she noticed something brown under the table.

She inspected it a bit more and squinted her eyes. Then she realized. "Button Maaash!" She whined.

Button Mash peeked out from under the table. "Oh. What's up, Sweetie Belle? Do you know where Prince Spike is?"

"He's not even here right now." She deadpanned.

"Oh..."

"Come on, get out from there." Once Button did, she sighed. "Okay, Button. I'm sorry, but as long as I have Spike you can't be my coltfriend."

Button rolled his eyes. "Duuuh. That's why I need to defeat him."

Sweetie held Button's shoulder. "Enough of that foolishness. We both know that you can't beat him in a fight."

"Y-Yeah but-"

"Button..." She gave a sad face to him. "There are many fillies out there that would love to go out with you, and you're a great colt and all... but I'm not one of them."

Button gave a sad expression back. 

"I know you'll find a filly some day, and... I promise, that if anything happens between me and Spike, and I hope nothing does, I'll give you a shot." She said with a happy smile.

Button started to tear up. "O-Okay..." He croaked.

Button then suddenly latched onto Sweetie Belle in a hug and started to sob quite loudly.

"There there..." Sweetie rolled her eyes as she patted his back.

"Are we *Sob* ...still going to play... Minecraft together?"

"Anytime you want."

"You sure know a lot of stuff Ms. Pearl." Twilight said to the old mare, to which she just kept rocking back in forth in her chair. "Do you, um... think you could teach me what you know?"

"Ohh I'm sorry deary, but I'm too old for teachin' nowadays. I shoulda taught my daughter when I had the chance." She noticed the disappointed expression Twilight gave. "Tell you what, I'll write a book containing all I know for ya."

Twilight beamed. "That's great! Thank you so much!"

"No problem dear."





"I should be able to meet up in time with Sweetie Belle to get her to introduce me to her *Gulp* parents." Spike was flying down from Canterlot on his way back to Ponyville. He was as nervous as always ever since he hear that he was properly going to be introduced to his fillyfriend's parents.

"M-Maybe this isn't going to be so bad. It's not like anything going to change if..."

On a street, a drake and an alicorn stood in front of two unconscious ponies.

"When I searched through your memory banks, these two were the parents of the Element of Generosity," Armak explained.

"No. She's not generous, not at all."

"Well if you say so." Armak casually charged his horn and fired at another building. "Would you like the honor of destroying their home?"

Without hesitation, Spike lifted a finger and pointed at Rarity's parent's home. He fired a magical beam, blowing up the building in the process.

Spike's eyes widened, and he started to sweat. "M-Maybe..." He was lost for words.

And all he could do was wait until he actually met her parents, to see their reactions and opinions.

> Meeting The Parents
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The party has ended, and the Mane Six, excluding Rarity, were walking down a road of Ponyville.

Rainbow had a furious look on her face and Applejack chuckled.

"Upset about your tie with Sharp Air, Rainbow?" She asked with a smirk.

"No!" Rainbow spat out quickly.

"Well, Sweet Heart's mom is an earth pony and she's pretty strong. I beat her in some arm wrestling, and she beat me in some. I could even call her a rival.

Rainbow smirked. "Not as much as a rival as me I hope."

"Nope. Ya're still the most annoying."

Rainbow frowned. "Heey! What's that supposed to mean?"

The others chuckled.

"Sweet Heart's such a sweetie. She's really nice and adorable." Fluttershy said happily.

"I've talked to her grandmother. And did you know that she's talented with magic?! I know right? I could swear that she's as talented as Starswirl the Bearded himself!" She received odd looks. "Okay, maybe not as talented..." The looks continued. "What?"

Pinke bounced in between the four. "Wasn't that the best party ever?!" She yelled.

"Pinkie, all your parties are the best," Rainbow informed.

Pinkie giggled and waved a hoof. "Aww, you're just saying that..."





Spike flew above Ponyville. The sky was beginning its orange stage.

The drake was on his way to Carousel Boutique, on his way to Sweetie Belle. Passing recognizable buildings and structures with their magic lights on, illuminating the orange sky and somewhat dark streets. Only a few ponies were outside, most coming from the party Pinkie threw.

He soon was near his fillyfriend's home. He started to slow his speed and start to descend. And when he touched down in front of the building, he deactivated his wings in a flame and walked forward to the front door.

He let himself in, not needing to knock or anything since they were expecting him. And he was greeted by the warm smile of Sweetie Belle.

"Hiya Spike!"

"Hello, my princess." Spike said with droopy eyes.

"Spiiike!" Sweetie whined with a blush.

Spike giggled. 

"As much as I like it when you call me that, don't do it when Rarity's around!" She pouted.

"Aww don't say that Sweetie." Rarity's voice said from the other room. "I think it suits you well."

Sweetie sat down and crossed her forelegs. 

"Are you two ready? We're going in five minutes!" Rarity said.

The two said they were ready and Spike decided to sit down beside Sweetie Belle to wait for the older sister.

"So, ready to meet my parents?" Sweetie asked,

"Well... I already did before." 

Sweetie tilted her head. "Really? When?"

"One time when I was assisting Rarity," Spike explained.

"Oh. Well... that was Used Assistant Spike. They have to meet the new Awesome Spike."

Spike chuckled nervously.

"I can't wait to introduce you. It's going to be so great."

Spike looked down without Sweetie noticing his worried look. "Yeah... it is."

Suddenly, Rarity's pet Opal came around the corner into the room. She spotted Spike and walked up to him.

Spike didn't notice the cat that came up to him as his head was down, and he soon felt soft fur brush against his leg. "Sweetie Belle," *Giggles* "Stop. That tickl-" He looked down at where his leg was being brushed and he saw Opal. "Oh, uhh... hey Opal." The pet purred. "Yeah, I'm alright." Spike gave her a smile.

The white cat pointed to Sweetie Belle.

"What? What about Sweetie?"

Opal meowed and kept pointing between Spike and Sweetie Belle.

Spike grew a confused look and scratched his head.

The cat meowed again then suddenly scowled as she was picked up by two white hooves.

"You are coming as well, Opal. I can't wait to see mother's reaction to your improved coat." Rarity said happily, oblivious to the angry cat in her grasp.

"Uhh... Rarity?"

"No need for assistance Spike! It's alright!" She called.

Spike tried to reach out a claw to Opal but shrugged. "Eh, she'll be alright."


*****


After a couple of minutes, Rarity and Opal were ready.

"Let's be on our way you two!" She blinked.

Spike and Sweetie were flushing.

Rarity blinked again with a smile on her face. "Come on. Let's not be late." She headed for the door.

Spike and Sweetie looked at each other and smiled. Spike got up and took hold of Sweetie's hoof, pulling her up too.

"Such a gentledrake." Sweetie said in a classy voice.

"Anything for a fancy lady," Spike said, also in character.

Sweetie giggled. "Come on, let's go." Sweetie and Spike headed for the door, more specifically for Rarity.





After a couple minutes of walking, the four were-

"Wait? Why are we walking? It's getting dark and your parents live way in Fillydelphia." Spike explained. He gave them no chance to reply, as in a green flame they all teleported.

Fillydelphia

In front of a house, a green flame appeared. Some ponies stared at it since they knew where it came from.

Where the flame disappeared now stood two ponies, a dragon, and a small cat.

"Let's go. Thanks, Spike." Rarity said happily.

"You're welcome." He said as he walked beside Sweetie Belle, following Rarity.

They approached the front door and Rarity rang the doorbell.

Spike's heart was racing. Any time now he would know the official outcome of the re-meeting with his fillyfriend's parents.

Just behind the door, Spike could hear footsteps coming closer and closer.

This was it.

The door opened.

"Rarity! Sweetie Belle! Prince Spike! Welcome!" Hondo Flanks greeted.

"Just 'Spike' is fine mister," Spike said kindly albeit nervously.

"Alright, Spike. Come on in, all of you."

"At least the introduction went well."

Hondo Flanks walked them to the living room after he let them in. And there was Sweetie Belle's mom sitting on a couch.

"Hello, my little majestic angels. How are all of you-" She grew mildly surprised at the sight of Spike, but then put on the warmest smile she could muster. "Why hello Pri-"

"J-Just 'Spike' is fine, Ms. Crumbles."

"Well then, hello Spike, my soon-to-be son-in-law." She teased.

"Uhh..." Spike was at a lost for words. he was blushing madly.

"Oh mom, isn't it too early to be thinking about such things?" Rarity said with a smile.

"I don't get it." Sweetie Belle told.

Spike leaned in to whisper to her. "She's talking about marriage." Sweetie was still confused. "O-Our marriage..."

Sweetie's eyes widened. "Moooooom!" She whined.

Everyone, excluding Spike, started to laugh.

"That's not for another, like, a gazillion years!" She said frustrated.

"Oh ho ho," Her father laughed, "She's just teasin' pumpkin. Now come along, your mother made dinner."

And with that, everyone went on their way to the kitchen except Rarity and Spike.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it Spike?" Rarity asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Rarity giggled. "Twilight told me how you were getting worried how our parents wouldn't like you or something like that."

Spike scratched the back of his head in shame. "Yeah, it was for... reasons."

"Well anyhow, let's go eat." Rarity made her way into the kitchen.

Spike was about to go but was greeted by Sweetie Belle's parents, Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles.

"Uhh... hey."

They were both smiling down at him.

"W-What's up?"

"The ceiling." Cookie Crumbles answered.

"Uhh... y-yeah! You're right! Well, I'm just gonna go ea-"

"Spike."

"Y-Yeah Mr. Flanks."

Hondo looked down on him with a warm smile. "Take good care of our sweet little Sweetie Belle, would you?"

"...Y-Yeah, or course."

"And be sure to get us some gran-"

"Honey!" 

"O-Oh right. Just a kid." Crumbles giggled to herself.

They both walked to the kitchen with Spike in tow.

Spike blew a sigh of relief, this was going perfectly-

A voice called from the table. A male voice. 

"Spike, about our house being destroyed."

...

...

...

"FU-"


Next Time On Season Spike


Spike and Twilight find a mysteriously injured baby dragoness outside of their home. With the lack of knowledge the local doctors have on dragons, the two decide to take her in their castle and care for her.


> [Episode 6: A New Dragon In Town] Hurt Dragoness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight and Spike sat inside the castle throne room, each doing their own things.

Spike had a beautiful sapphire in his claws, about to take a bite. And Twilight had a book in her magic, like always.

It was about midnight, and mostly everypony were in their beds at the moment.

Everypony except for Princess Twilight Sparkle of course. She was reading a book called "The Legends From Beyond", and you could say she was very interested in it.

Spike, however, was interested in the beauty stone he was about to feast on. He had a smile on, already imagining how it would taste.

Hours past and Twilight was about to finish her book. Spike ate the gem he had long ago and decided to go to sleep as the rest of Ponyville already did hours ago.

Twilight soon finished reading and closed the book with a happy sigh. She looked out the window to see the night sky holding the bright moon and stars. She got up to put her book away on the bookshelf right next to the window. "I'll be sure to..." She yawned. "...put this book back in the main library tomorrow." Because she stood in front of the bookshelf placed right next to the window, Twilight could see and look down upon Ponyville. "Such an incredible view." She yawned again. "Too bad I can't stay awake to look at this forever." She turned away from a window, but something caught her eye which made her turn back. "Huh...?"

She squinted her eyes, trying to focus on the distance.

Then she saw it.

"It that... a dragon?!"

Her eyes didn't deceive her as a pink and light blue baby dragon walked under the night sky.

Twilight inspected further and saw that the baby dragoness was limping. "Oh no, i-is she hurt?" The dragon limped a bit more before falling to the ground, making Twilight fly out the window immediately in worry.

She flew fast with a determined look on her face. "Please be alright. Please be alright." She chanted in her head.

She soon landed right next the baby dragon, getting a better look at her.

She was about the same size as Spike, and had scratches and bruises all over her body.

Twilight saw that she had a pained look on her face. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright?"

She got no response in words, but breathing was present.

"Come on," She took her gently in her hooves. "Let's get you inside. It's cold out here without Celestia's sun up." So she made her way back to the Friendship Castle with the baby girl dragon in her hooves.

Once inside, she made her way upstairs and to one of the guest bedrooms. She set the little dragon on the bed and made sure she was alright before heading back outside to look for anything suspicious.





Spike stirred slightly when he got shaken by purple hooves.

"Spike! Spike! Wake up! I need your help."

"Five more minutes." Spike whined.

"There's someone hurt," Twilight used her magic to place Spike onto her back. "And I need your assistance this instant."

"Yeah, I'll assist you just now, Twi. Five more minutes." Spike said tiredly. He began to rest his chest on Twilight's back, trying to get back to sleep.

She put a hoof to her chin when an idea struck her. "Hmm, I guess I'll have to find another assistant I guess." She said with fake sadness.

Spike's reaction was expected.

"Wha- No- I'm awake!" He gave Twilight a nervous toothy grin.

Twilight giggled. "Relax Spike I'll never replace you. I can't replace you."

Spike chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Yeaah, so, what's this about... uhh..."

"Someone being hurt?"

"Someone's hurt?! Where?!" Spike hopped off Twilight's back with a serious face and looked around the room.

"She's resting in one of the guest rooms. Follow me." Twilight said, equally serious.

Spike followed Twilight to the hallway of the guestrooms. He followed her into the first room on the right.

Spike gasped when he saw who was hurt. "That's a..." 

"A baby girl dragon. About your age, and looks like she's the same type of dragon too."

Spike looked all over her body to see her bruised. "What happened to her?"

"I saw her outside very weak. She fell over after a few seconds I spotted her so I brought her here."

Spike stared at the girl dragon. "Can we do anything to help her?"

"That's what I was going to ask you." Twilight gave Spike a sad look. "Spike, we both know ponies don't know much about dragons. What happens every time I take you to the Ponyville hospital?"

"They're scared to do anything on me because they don't know much."

"Exactly. I say... we let her rest and see if she gets better over time."

Spike nodded.

"I'm off to bed you coming?" Twilight started to trot off.

Spike looked at Twilight then at the other dragon. "I think I'll stay here. Just in case she wakes up."

"Alright," Twilight yawned. "I'll see you in the morning."

Spike stood at the side of the bed where the girl dragon rested. He gripped the sheets that covered her. "Another dragon, my age. Maybe I can finally find out about dragon culture. Maybe- no... I have to focus on making her survive first." So, for another hour that night, Spike looked after the dragoness.





Bright light shined in Spike's eyes, making him squint it shut and turning away. When he finally opened them with some work, he looked around, finding himself sitting on a chair in a guest room.

"Wait..." He just remembered and gasped. He got straight up and looked over to the bed, seeing the baby girl dragon sleeping peacefully.

Spike sighed and walked over to the door. He gave one last glance before exiting the room.

When he got downstairs the scent of delicious food, namely eggs, filled Spike's nostrils. 

Forgetting the other dragon for a second, Spike made his way towards the wonderful smell. He entered the kitchen to see Twilight flinching every second or so when near the stove. Spike smirked when he saw what was happening. "Can't cook?" He mocked.

"It's-" She took a step back. "-not that. Why does the hot magic have to flicker all the time?"

"Oh, yeah, you can get burned." Spike chuckled. "Too bad you're not a dragon." His smile dropped when he reminded himself about the other dragon upstairs.

Twilight noticed this. "She seemed better than before when I checked on you two earlier. Did she wake up?"

Spike sighed. "No. Or at least I think not."

"Alright." Twilight turned back to try and cook again but immediately stepped a few inches back when more magic came bursting.

Spike smiled. "Let me take care of it. You go do... whatever you need to."

Twilight groaned out loudly. "That's just it. The Cutie Map called for Rainbow and Pinkie and left me with nothing to do." She said, very annoyed.

"Maybe you can look after the girl dragon upstairs?" Spike suggested as he activated his wings and flew up to be at level with the stove.

"Perhaps I could do some reading while watching her. It would be best if she woke up to see a friendly face." 

With that, Twilight went to the library in the castle to grab a book.

When she entered, she started to browse for an interesting book to read. She checked the fiction section and when she didn't find anything interesting in the first shelve she turned around to the non-fiction shelves. 

She looked at each of the titles.

And that's when she saw it.

"What, it can't be!"


***


Up in the castle guest room. The pink and light blue girl dragon stirred in the bed.


***


Spike finished the eggs and was about to call for Twilight when he saw her coming towards him with a happy expression on her face.

"Twilight?"

"Spike! I can't believe it!" She said while beaming.

"What happened?"

Twilight pulled out a huge red book with a design that looked old. "I was searching through the library to find a book to read and I found this."

She handed Spike the book and he read the title.

The Dragon Ways: Volume I

"B-but how? We never had any-"

"Don't you remember, Spike? This castle was made from the Rainbow Power. Including the books, furniture, and everything else inside! This book was given to us through the Rainbow Power, and there's five more books in the series!" She said very excitedly.

"This means..."

"That's right!"

"...I could finally learn more about... dragons." Spike said. 

Very soon Twilight could see Spike's happiness rise tenfold. He smiled brightly before jumping up and hugging Twilight by the neck.

Twilight hugged back, and they both smiled.

But then they heard something that snapped them out of it.

It was a big castle so it was silent, but they still heard something drop from upstairs. And it was a hard drop.

Worry came upon Twilight and Spike before they teleported upstairs...

Right into the guest bedroom holding the girl dragon.

The bed was empty. Covers rustled up.

Twilight and Spike grew more worried and almost started to panic. Almost, because Spike found the girl dragon on the floor next to the bed.

Spike sighed as he picked the dragoness up with his magic and placed her back on the bed. "Looks like she just fell off the bed."

"Seems so," Twilight said, finally calming down. "Is she alright?"

"Of course," Spike said after feeling her scales. "These scales can handle almost anything. Heck, they helped me survive lots of times before."

"Good. Maybe one of us should keep an eye on her now." Twilight suggested.

"Can you right now? I have to *sigh* go do the eggs." Spike gave Twilight the book of dragons, and teleported out of the room to presumably make more eggs.

Twilight sighed to herself. She looked at the baby girl dragon once more before sitting down on a chair nearby and starting to read. "This may be the day we learn much more about the dragons."
> She Awakens
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike was flying in front of the stove and called for Twilight from the kitchen. "Twilight, the eggs are ready! Twilight?"

"I'm coming!" Twilight descended the stairs and made her way to the kitchen. She took a whiff of the food's smell. "Smells delicious Spike."

"Thanks! You know I try my best." Spike stopped flying midair after he got two plates filled with food in his claws. He walked over to the table Twilight had begun to sit at, and set the two plates down. He sat at the opposite side of the table and took a bite out of his toast. "So? Did ya find anything new about dragons?" He asked excitedly.

Twilight gulped the food she had in her mouth down her throat. "The first book in the series read about the dragon civilization. There's normal dragons, a Dragon Lord for a specific population, and the almighty Dragon King that rules over all of the dragons." 

Spike took another bite. "So... where is this Dragon King?"

"The book didn't say. And the only dragons we know of are the ones that follow Equestria's Dragon Lord."

"I want to meet the Dragon King one day. He's probably really powerful and cool!"

Twilight giggled. "I'm sure you will when you grow up."

"Did the girl dragon from upstairs wake up or anything?"

Twilight shook her head. "She didn't even move once. I'm really worried about her."

"Is she still breathing?"

"Yeah."

"Then I know she's going to be alright," Spike said with a smile.

This made Twilight smile back and she took another bite of her food.





"Is she in position?" 

"Yes."

"Where is her location currently?"

"She is in the Crystal Castle. Still sleeping."

"Good. Soon we will finally get revenge."





Upstairs in the guest bedroom, the little dragon slowly but surely opened her eyes. She sat up on the bed and looked around. "Crystal floors, fancy bed, big windows. Yup, I'm he-"

"You're awake!"

The girl dragon put on a confused innocent look, and when a purple alicorn came into view she flinched back. "W-who are you?"

Twilight gave a warm smile to her. "Relax, I'm not going to hurt you."

She tried to hide under the covers, peeking out to look. "Y-you are...?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle. What's yours?"

"I-I'm Dim Sum."

"Interesting name!" Twilight smiled warmly at her.

"Yes... it is." She blushed a little. "What am I doing here? What are you? You look like an animal I've never seen before."

Twilight blinked, surprised. How did this baby dragon not know of ponies? Did dragon school not teach it? Did parents not teach it? Is she too young to know? "I'm a pony, and you're in our territory, shared with other creatures, called Equestria. I found you really injured outside my home."

"O-oh..."

Twilight had to get some questions answered. She knew not to startle her with too many questions so she went up to the bed and asked softly. "What happened to you Dim Sum?"

The girl dragon looked at her with a confused look. "I... don't know."

Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh. Where are you from? I should get you back home. With your family."

Dim Sum scratched her head in thought. "I can't remember..."

Twilight gasped. "Could you be suffering memory loss? Oh no!"

"My memory?"

Twilight started to pace back and forth becoming very worried. "What if your parents come to look for you? And they see you here and think we dragonnapped you? What if they start a war with the ponies?" She gasped and zipped to Dim Sum, pressing her face against hers. "What if Celestia finds out and she's... disapointed." She flailed her legs in the air. "We're all doomed-"

Dim Sum looked down at the snoring purple pony. Then looked up at what caused it, a purple and green dragon, just like her. "Another dragon?!" She gasped out, genuinely surprised.

Spike stared at the fallen Twilight and sighed. "It's just ridiculous sometimes." He looked up at the now awakened dragoness. "Hi, there! I'm Spike!" He raised a claw for a shake.

Dim Sum hesitated at first, but eventually she shook claws with him. "I thought this was the pony lands? What are you doing here?"

Spike pointed a finger at himself proudly. "I was born here! Raised by this pony herself." He said pointing to Twilight. "They're all really cool and friendly actually."

Dim Sum stared at him.

"Not very impressive huh? Oh well. I don't really care." He picked up Twilight with his magic and put on a straight face. "Memory loss, interesting. I'll see what I can do."

Dim Sum watched as Spike carried Twilight away presumably to her room.

"I'll be right back! Don't go anywhere!" The drake called out.

Dim Sum listened closely until Spike's footsteps died down. Once they did, her frightened face turned into a serious one and she threw the blankets off of her. She ran up to the closest window and opened it, making a gust of wind blast her face.

"Those idiots didn't have to bruise me that badly." She said as she took out a glass bottle with a brown cork on the top. She popped the cork off and breathed her dragon fire inside, her pink fire danced in the bottle and didn't escape. She put the cork back on the bottle, it glowing bright pink when doing so, and tossed it down below to the Ponyville streets. Before it hit the ground, the bottle vanished in a pink flame.

"Are you worried?"

Dim Sum jumped and turned to look at Spike. "W-what are you talking about?"

Spike smiled. "Don't worry, Equestria is very safe and peaceful... well, except when those random super-powerful bad guys come, but that's probably coming later this month."

Dim Sum tilted her head. 

"What I mean to say is, you're safe, and until we find out how to fix this, you'll stay safe."

Dim Sum nodded. 

"Oh!" Spike snapped his fingers and a ruby appeared in a flash of green.

Dim Sum looked surprised.

"I don't know when last you've eaten, but you're probably hungry. Here!"

Spike handed out the ruby to Dim Sum. She again hesitated at first but took the gem from him with thanks.

"How about we wait until Twilight wakes up. She's better with this stuff than me anyways. For now, you can clean up, and come downstairs with me in the meantime."

Dim Sum said something.

"Pardon, I couldn't quite hear you."

"When will she wake up?" She said just loud enough for Spike to hear.

"Usually, she'll wake up in an hour or so."

"Okay..."

"So I'll be downstairs, come if you want. Set of stairs down the hall to the right."

Dim Sum watched Spike walk away, before returning to a serious look and looking around.





A dragon figure in a dark cave reached up in the sky as a pink flame flew down. A glass bottle appeared in the flame and dropped down to the dragon's claw. He uncorked the bottle and the pink flame inside burst out, making familiar sounds.

"I am currently inside the home of the princess and a little dragon, with me having 'memory loss'." The flame spoke in Dim Sum's voice. "I will gain the princess's trust soon. DO NOT engage until I order it, we do not want to get the other princess's attention."

The dragon had others standing beside it, they all listened closely.

"Also, when I catch the imbicel who knocked me too hard, they will regret it!"

This made some of the dragons shiver.

"I'll be in touch, stay in hiding."

The flame disappeared.





Dim Sum walked behind Spike as he led them to the kitchen.

"Um..."

"Spike."

"Spike? You don't have wing-"

In a flame, his dragon wings appeared.

"Oh... that's pretty cool."

"Nah it's nothing. Just some plain ol' wings."

Every second, when Spike wasn't looking, Dim Sum would look around with a keen eye, making note of every little detail.

"You know," Spike started. "I thought I was going to be really excited that I got to meet a friendly dragon, and you're even my age! But now when I look at it I think I'm not as excited as I thought I would be."

"Why so?" She asked while turning her head left to look at a blue vase.

"Probably because I was worried about your health. And now that you're healthy and walking I really don't know how I should feel. Kinda weird if you ask me."

Dim Sum stayed quiet.

"Is there something wrong Dim Sum?"

She shook her head.

"Something on your mind?"

"No."

"Huh..." Spike kept walking. 

Dim Sum walked after Spike and soon they arrived at the kitchen.

"How does a Gem Cake sound?"

"...Cake?"

"Oh, right, dragons don't do cakes. Well, you're going to have a really great dessert."

"Dessert?"

Spike slapped his forehead. "Just sit down and wait, I'll get some delicious food ready."

Dim Sum waited at the table, eyeing every place and paying attention to the sounds of the nearby dragon. "Did the others know that there was another dragon here? Who is he? I never heard of a dragon living with the ponies before." She told herself.

She kept looking around and busying herself while she waited an hour for Spike. The little dragon's footsteps could be heard coming towards Dim Sum, so she got her expression to look neutral.

"Here it is! My famous Gem Cake." Spike held a plate with a round chocolate cake. It had white whip cream on top with blue gems as big sprinkles.

Spike set the cake down and got two more plates, setting one in front of Dim Sum and one at his own seat. He took out a knife and cut two pieces, putting each one on their respective plates.

"This is... cake."

"Yup!" Spike said proudly. "Try it, you'll love it."

"Now he has me eating one of their stupid pony foods. Why did I have to be the only smart one in the group to infiltrate?" She hesitated, and not until she saw Spike staring at her waiting for her to try it did she pick it up and bite.

...

"Do you like it?"

Dim Sum chewed. "It has this weird taste and texture... soft and the taste blows up in my mouth... this is better than fruit and grass! Much better!" She swallowed. "This is so good! And I didn't even get to the gems!"

Spike laughed. "Better get eating before Twilight wakes up. She'll take what's left and throw away the gems into her wallet! Such a waste if you ask me." He tossed one whole slice into his mouth which made Dim Sum surprised.

"I never thought I would say this, but... I love this pony food!"

Spike and Dim Sum sat and ate quietly but happily as lunch went by.


> One Sunny Day With Two Dragons And Unicorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight was laying in her bed with her eyes closed, still unconscious from her assistant's way to calm her down.

Unknown to her, four dragons were sneaking under her castle through tunnels they dug. With no light in the tunnels, only darkness could be seen, only with their fire breath could they find their direction.

"Are you sure we should be doing this. Dim said we should wait for her order." One of them said.

"Will you shut it?" The one who was second in command said. "I know what I'm doing. We go in there, use these rings that Dim gave us, and get out with a princess without magic."

"But-"

"I said shut up! Dim will take too long to become good friends with them. So we'll take action the better way. Now follow me or go home."





Spike and Dim Sum walked together in one of the many halls. Dim Sum looked left and right every second while fluttering her wings a bit.

"I was going to go gem mining with my friend, Rarity," Spike said as he walked with his arms stretched up behind his head. "I know you'll love it! You know... because we're dragons."

Dim Sum didn't reply.

"Besides, I have more recipes I want you to try. I never really got someone to taste test gem recipes before."

"Who is this Rarity?" Dim asked.

"Oh! She's a nice and beautiful unicorn that designs clothes. She's so beautiful in fact that I even had a crush on her before. Funny right?" Spike giggled to himself.

"What kind of dragon is this? It's like he's a pony in disguise." Dim said in disbelief.

"Anyways, I was headed there today to help her out. So I thought you'd love to come too."

Dim Sum grunted under her breath. Spike heard her.

"You get a reward at the end~" Spike said in a sing-song voice.

"D-don't tell me they treat him like a pet animal and he's okay with it! I heard that these ponies have the ability to use magic. They probably have mind control spells..." Dim Sum's eyes went wide.

Spike looked over to his new dragon friend and saw her expression. "It's not a cheap reward either heh heh..." Not anymore anyways.

It took the two ten minutes to get to Carousel Boutique on foot, coming across many surprised but friendly faces on the way. Mostly because they never saw a non-hostile dragon other than Spike in their lives.

Spike and Dim Sum walked up to the front door of the Boutique and knocked because it was closed currently. They heard some distant hoof steps coming towards the door right before it opened.

"Hello, Spike, and- Oh! Who's this beautiful young dragon you have here?" Rarity asked.

"This is Dim Sum! She's a nice lady dragon that Twilight found outside last night beaten up." Spike told. "So she brought her into the castle and we took care of her."

"Oh my Celestia, that's terrible! But I see now that you're okay. I'm Rarity, nice to meet you." Rarity raised a hoof and shook Dim Sum's claw with it.

"Nice to meet you as well." The girl dragon replied.

"I'm proud of you for taking care of her Spike."

"Thanks," Spike grinned. "By the way. I was wondering if she could come with us to go gem mining?"

"Why sure, of course, Spikey! With another set of claws and tail, we'll get more this round. And that also means more rewards for my assistants." She rubbed both of their heads  playfully which made them flinch and close their eyes. "Come inside while I get my things." She stepped aside and let the two inside. 

Spike and Dim Sum sat on a nearby couch and waited patiently for Rarity.

Dim looked around and stared at the many dresses and mannequins taking space in Rarity's Boutique.

"Like the dresses huh? Ask her nicely and you'll get a discount." Spike told her.

Dim looked at Spike for a second before turning away and starting to stare at the surroundings again.

"Alright!" Rarity walked into the room wearing a hardhat and a saddlebag. "I've got my things!" Rarity looked at Dim Sum who was still staring at the dresses. She stared at her for a moment until her eyes sparkled. "Oh! I've just figured out the perfect design that matches with the color or your scales Dim Sum!" She gasped with a little too much drama for Spike, who just stared at Rarity with a knowing look while she spoke. "Just imagine, Rarity Belle not only designing clothing for ponies, donkeys, princes and princesses but also for dragons! It's going to be the one push my Boutique needs to step up to the next level!" She then looked at Spike who was raising an eyebrow at her. "What?"

He still stared.

Rarity sighed and slapped her forehead. "Let's just get going.





Rarity stepped up to the digging site that Spike found the other day. Her horn glowed in her blue magic and very soon a wave of her blue magic swept the ground nearby them, revealing gems hidden in the ground.

Spike walked up beside her and held her shoulder with his claw. Soon after, another wave, this time being lime green, swept the ground in a larger radius.

"I don't know how to do the spell like you do," Spike said. "But I can buff it a little when you use it."

That's when they started to go around and dig up the gems. Rarity used her magic to her best capabilities to pick up nearby revealed gems while Spike flew up and used his magic to grab many of the gems far away to Dim amazement. "He can control so much of his fire magic?" She thought. "I want to know his limit. Perhaps if he has enough I can save him from this slavery."

They all continued to dig up the gems until the sun was almost down.





Two dragons and one unicorn walked away from the sunset as they spoke to one another.

"Here you go. It's the least I can do for such hard workers." She gave a full bag of gems to each of them. "And if you need anymore we do have all of these." She looked at the wagon holding a huge pile of gems she was pulling.

"That's okay, Rarity. This is fine." Spike smiled at her.

Dim took out a single ruby and inspected it a little before tossing it in her mouth to eat. Spike giggled at this action, which she couldn't comment on if she wanted to because her mouth was full.





Meanwhile

It was quiet in the friendship castle, the only noise one could hear would be Twilight's faint snoring, but even that was quiet.

Then there was some rumbling below.

Then some footsteps.

Then a door creaking open.

...

Growl...


> A Missing Purple Alicorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike and Dim Sum entered the castle happily with a bag of gems in each of their claws.

"It's not as bad as I thought. Living among ponies." Dim thought to herself, soon shaking her head at the unbelievable thought. "What am I saying?! If I keep thinking like this then I won't ever get respect."

"Hey."

Dim looked over to Spike with both of her brows raised. "Yeah?"

"Something on your mind?" Spike asked.

"Um... No, it's nothing, don't worry about it." She said with a smile.

Spike seemed to buy it as he kept walking straight.

"By the way," Dim continued. "Where's your purple pony friend?" She asked.

"I don't know," Spike said while looking left and right. "She should be awake by now, at least in the library, or she probably went to go see one of her friends. Maybe she left a note somewhere..." He scratched his head before stopping. "Well... anyways. Do you want to lend me some of your gems so I could make gem cupcakes?"

"Um... sure." Dim wasn't exactly sure what cupcakes were but there was still cake inside of cupcake and she loved cake. She might as well give it a try.

It felt like time flew by as Spike finished baking. The two ate, Dim was enjoying every bite, but on the other claw, Spike was starting to get worried about Twilight. He rid some of the cupcakes of gems specifically for her, but there was no hint of her ever since she over exaggerated earlier and Spike had to put her to sleep. Spike even checked all over the castle after he was done eating, but not a sound of Twilight came.

Spike decided to just head to his bedroom and sleep. He met Dim Sum, who was suspiciously in deep thought, back in the kitchen and took her back to the bedroom she first found herself on when she woke up.

When she was properly rested, Spike told her to have a great night before heading to his own room. Halfway through his walk, he stopped and looked out a window in the hallway, staring at the full white glowing moon up in the sky on display. His eyes glistened as he thought, "It's not like you to just disappear on me like that. Even if it was an emergency you would have had a note laying on the top right corner of the kitchen table or one of your friends come tell me." He gripped the bottom of the windowsill. "I hope you're alright Twilight..." He let go of the windowsill and continued to walk, briefly looking back at Luna's moon. "Wherever you are..."





1:00 AM

Dim Sum couldn't sleep. She wasn't awake for all that long when she thought about it. She woke up in the middle of the day, and even if she did work for that white pony she couldn't be tired so soon. She was nothing close to a lazy dragon. She always worked hard and was proud doing so. And then there was this odd thing she was laying in, a bed. Not that she was uncomfortable, she just wasn't used to it. It was nothing like the obsidian plates she had at her home.

After a while just laying on the bed, she started to think deeply about the same purple pony and how she was suddenly missing. A thought came to her mind that made her chuckle. "Like that would happen." But she grew a serious face. "But what if it did..." She laid still on the bed for some time, thinking with a frown and furrowed eyes. Soon she started to fidget under the bed, twisting and turning. After about a minute, she got up slowly and hopped off the bed with a quiet sound of landing on the floor. She walked up to the door and peeked out to see if anyone was there before opening it wide and stepping out sneakily.

Dim Sum walked past Spike's room where she saw him sleeping on his back, she then came across Twilight's room which was still empty. She quickly but silently opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.

"Alright," She whispered to herself. "Time to see if I was right."





Twilight woke up, slowly opening her eyes. "It must be night." She thought. But something seemed weird to her. Why was she sleeping on the hard floor and why was the ground rumbling a bit. She was going to get up to find and turn on the light switch but her head hitting the ceiling stopped her. 

Rubbing her knocked head, Twilight shinned her horn and found out that she was in a wooden box. After a nervous look around the box she used her magic and teleported out of the box...

Right in the middle of four dragons.

"Ah!" Twilight shrieked as she hovered in the air in the middle of the grassy field.

The dragons also yelled under the dark sky. "Ahh!" 

Twilight gasped. "D-dragons?!" Something about this felt familiar to Twilight.

"How'd she escape?!" Of of the dragons yelled.

"She used magic numbskull! That means someone didn't put the collar on!" Another said.

"I swear I did!" One of the smaller ones exclaimed.

Twilight looked at each and every one of them in disbelief. "Escape? Collar? What's going on here?!"

After a split second she said that, all the heads of the dragons snapped in her direction.

"U-uh hey there, big, strong dragons..." She said with a sheepish smile.

Her reply was a bunch of snarls as the dragon slowly inched their way closer to the alicorn.

Twilight carefully started to hover backward with fright, lighting her horn to get ready any one of them, but as her horn started to get brighter, she bumped into something hard behind her. She turned and looked up at the red and yellow scaled grinning dragon she didn't want to see again after the dragon migration.

She again smile sheepishly. "Oh, h-hey Garble! Long time no see..."

Garble smiled viciously. "It's nice to see you again, pony."

Twilight grew wide-eyed when Garble started to reach down to her, she tried to charge up some magic in her horn but the dragon noticed this and grabbed her by the horn, stopping whatever she was planning. "None of that stupid magic, pony. If you wanted to fight me then it's without it."

Twilight gritted her teeth and started to charge some more magic in Garble's grasp.

Garble shook his head mockingly before tightening his grip on her horn, making her squeak out in pain. He turned to the other dragons. "Get me one of the collars!" He ordered. 

Twilight watched helplessly as a pink and white dragon handed Garble a magma-colored ring. Garble then proceeded to place the ring around Twilight's horn. She felt the ring slightly burning where it was touching her horn and she groaned in pain.

Garble threw her to the ground harshly and turned to the other dragons. She heard one order from him before she blacked out.

"Call Dim Sum."





It was dark in the friendship castle. Spike was still sleeping while Dim Sum was still sneaking around. The clues she found led her to the basement of the castle, where she was walking around at the moment.

She was in the middle of one of the rocky hallways. She looked left and right before walking forward. She turned left and walked down a different hallway. This is where she noticed a couple sets of footprints. She furrowed her eyebrows and followed to where they started. She was taken to a large tunnel which was five times her size. 

With her draconic eyes she spotted something on the ground. She walked up to it and kneeled down, picking up dry dragon scale.

"Of course it had to be those idiots..." She said to herself.

Dim Sum then got up and decided to enter and explore the tunnel, making sure to get back to her room before sunrise.


> A Missing Teal Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike woke up with a stretch and a yawn. He scratched his head and looked around wearily, soon hopping off his bed to head to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

After ten minutes, Spike walked out of the bathroom with a warm towel wrapped around him to dry himself off. He walked down the halls with his towel still wrapped around him, looking in each and every room for any signs of Twilight. None were found.

Spike shook his head in defeat as he realized Twilight didn't return yet. "Where are you Twi?"





Twilight opened her eyes while laying on the ground on her back to see the sunlight above, the shine of Celestia's sun made her shut them tight and look away. She looked to her left slowly with blurry sight to just see grass, but when she looked to her right she saw the blurry image of the same dragons as last night talking to one another. 

She tried to pick herself up but found out that she was tied up with rope. Trying to use magic seemed impossible because that collar they put on her horn was stopping any magic from activating.

She was still a bit fuzzy with her sightings, and when she saw a hint of teal and pink scales she didn't believe it. But then she heard their conversation.

"I told you to wait! I was the one who was supposed to capture her!" Dim Sum said.

"You were taking too long in there!" Garble spat back. "And besides, your father doesn't know who captured her, we can lie. Simple as that."

"That's not the point! I don't want to just prove it to him, but to myself as well! And since you did the job instead of me, I still haven't proven anything!"

"Maybe your dad was right." One of the other dragons told.

Dim Sum snapped her head to his direction and glared with glowing pink eyes, even if it was color pink it looked menacing.

The blue and green scaled dragon visibly gulped and shivered. "U-uh... just saying." Some of the other dragons facepalmed.

Dim Sum took a couple of steps forward, the dragon replied by stepping backward in fear. The baby dragoness kept stalking forward as the bigger dragon kept walked backward.

It was until the taller dragon found himself against a cold hard rock blocking him from behind that he stopped, and as Dim Sum walked slowly towards him she reached out in the air and in sparkles of pink flame a long teal and pink staff matching her scales respectively appeared. Dim aimed the blue orbed head of it at the dragon, and soon pink flames escaped it and started to swirl around the frightened dragon fiercely.

As the other dragons struggled to see their companion in the midst of the flame in pink, Dim thrashed her staff in the air like she was swatting a fly, and in that moment the fire dispersed along with the dragon inside.

By now Twilight had a good sense of vision and was shocked to see what just happened.

Dim Sum turned around and glared at all the others. "Now does anyone else want to say anything? Or do I have to send you back to the kingdom?" She only gave a few seconds for any idiot to answer before she made her way towards Twilight, still with the staff in her claw.

A shadow grew on Twilight's form as she stared nervously at Dim Sum. She still couldn't use her magic if she wanted to, and she was surrounded by a dozen dragons possibly on Dim Sum's order. "D-Dim Sum..." She breathed out.

Dim kneeled beside Twilight and said, "Really sorry about this Twilight..." Her faced showed a hint of sorrow, but it quickly washed away and was replaced with determination. "But I have to do this." She stood up and gave some orders while Twilight laid there helplessly.





It was almost Eight O' Clock.

Spike rocked his feet back and forth on one of the kitchen chairs as he waited for something, anything, a single hint of Twilight or Dim Sum.

A first he thought it was just a "girls day." But they didn't leave a note or say goodbye or anything. He then went around Ponyville asking others if they saw either of the two, and he didn't find a single pony who knew. Is this some sort of surprise or joke? Another surprise party perhaps?

Whatever the case, Spike couldn't help but worry about his older sister and new slash only dragon friend. He decided he would go talk to someone about this. And someone who could know something.

After closing the library inside and locking the door, Spike put on his backpack and activated his wings in a cool, lime green flame. He then took off to none other than Canterlot to see one of his favorite princesses.





Spike soon arrived at Canterlot Castle, where he was greeted by many guards who all bowed. "Oh right, I'm a Prince now." Since he lived in Ponyville, Spike didn't get as much bowing towards him or being addressed formally. It didn't matter to him, though, he was kind of like Twilight where he didn't need too much respect most of the time.

"Can I talk to Princess Celestia?" Spike asked them.

"Of course. Come this way." One of the guards, presumably the leader, replied. They brought him up to one of the top floors near the throne room, and they found Celestia and her sister Luna walking through one of the halls.

"Spike!" Celestia shouted with happiness when she noticed the small dragon.

By now the guards were gone and were making their way back to their posts to mind their own business. Spike ran up to Celestia and Luna and hugged them both from their left and right forehooves. Celestia used her free right forehoof to rub Spike's back lovingly, noticing a warm smile coming from her sister to her left. "What are you doing here at this time?" She kindly asked.

"O-oh yeah!" Spike stepped back and gripped his claws into fists. "Twilight's gone missing!" He said as he looked up at her and Luna.

Worry grew on Celestia and Luna's face as they glanced at each other. "Explain," Celestia ordered.

"Okay so..." Spike scratched the back of his head. "This could be kind of my fault..."

"How so?" Luna raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you see, Twilight and I found this baby dragon, Dim Sum. She was-"

"Dim Sum?" Celestia put a hoof to her chin in thought.

"Do... you know her?"

"Indeed I do." She said as she still thought to herself.

"Who is she? Twilight and I found her bruised up outside of our castle! We took her in and when she woke up Twilight started to go into Crazy Mode for some reason so I knocked her out for a bit. Then this morning, she and Dim Sum disappeared."

Luna furrowed her brows while Celestia was still in thought. "Is this why you think it is your fault, Prince Spike?" Luna asked.

Spike nodded sadly. "I don't know for sure, but she couldn't defend herself from anything if she was still knocked out. I'm worried about her." He rubbed his right shoulder in shame.

"I think I know what might have happened," Celestia spoke up. "Spike. If I remember correctly Dim Sum is the daughter of the King of Dragons."

Spike was shocked, to say the least. What was the... Princess of dragons doing all the way over here? 

Before Spike or Luna could respond Celestia continued. "You see, the King helped comfort me after... I was forced to banish Nightmare Moon to the moon."

Spike gasped while Luna stared in shock at her sister.

"I was surprised at first. But my sorrow and love for my sister covered all the shock and I accepted him as my tissues for tears. Occasionally we would get together and have a friendly chat or do something to get my mind off of Nightmare Moon. It wasn't long until he showed me two baby dragon eggs."

Spike stared at Celestia with a wide mouth as he pointed to himself as if he was asking a question. Celestia nodded in response. "He told me to take one and he would do the same. We would raise the dragons that hatched with love and care. I promised him and he promised me that we would fulfill our responsibilities while looking over our nations. He told me that these beings will show our bond to one another."

"Wow... I didn't know."

Celestia chuckled. "I didn't expect you to know Spike. But back to my story: About twenty-five years ago the King contacted me and said that his daughter was hatched. I quickly found him and congratulated him on his child. Of course, this child is named Dim Sum." She walked over to a nearby window and looked out at the night sky. "She was very much like you when you were very little. Hyper, happy, and innocent. But she had something that you didn't Spike."

"...W-what?"

"She wanted recognition."

"Huh?"

"She was just looked at as the King's precious and sweet daughter and nothing more. She wanted to be looked at as a proud mighty dragon just like her father, and she needed to prove her strength to do so." Celestia turned back to Spike. "That's where my assumption came in. I think she was the one to capture Twilight. She wants to deliver a powerful being to her father to prove her strength."

"But if her dad had you as a friend, isn't he non-hostile towards other ponies?"

"Well, he does deny access to any creature in his kingdom with the exception of me. But yes, if he found a pony he wouldn't be hostile."

"Doesn't Dim know that then?"

"The Dragon King must look Almighty and powerful. He must hide his softer emotions to maintain his position as leader of the dragons. Even if it's also from his own daughter." 

"...Do you know where I'm from then?" Spike barely whispered out. Celestia heard him clearly.

"I'm afraid I don't Spike. Apologies."

Celestia walked up to the saddened Spike and laid a hoof on his shoulder. "The dragon kingdom is down south. I'm sure you could talk Dim Sum out of this and get Twilight back."

Spike gave a sad smile and nodded.

Celestia smiled warmly and gave a peck of a kiss on Spike's forehead.

Celestia and Luna watched Spike's figure flying in the night sky.

"I need to visit him soon Celly. How much has it been? Two-thousand years?"

"I'll be sure to make arrangements soon dear sister. But for now, let's leave his daughter to Spike."

> Dragon Encounter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike flew as fast as he could in the night sky with a trail of green color, representing his spikes, following behind him. He passed the Everfree Forest and was soon about to be flying over Appleloosa.

"Princess Celestia said Dim Sum could probably be heading down south to the Dragon Kingdom. I hope she was right..." Spike was still worried about his sister while he flew, looking nervously left and right for the purple alicorn.

Spike thought about checking Appleloosa for the other young dragon, but he knew it would be pointless. The dragon most likely wouldn't want to be seen with other ponies and probably walked right past it. Also, somepony would eventually spread the news to Applejack about a new dragon in town so that would be his backup.

The drake continued to fly fast in the night surveying the ground below, rarely looking up as the kidnappers wouldn't try to get spotted out in the open air, he assumed.

It didn't take long for the drake to find the other baby dragon running down a grassy plain. What surprised Spike was that there were some dragons accompanying her, one white and pink dragon was carrying Twilight with her wings and hooves tied with rope. He recognized one of the red dragons in the back, he was red and orange with respective wings. Spike wasn't fond of this dragon named Garble, who bullied him during the dragon migration, and would rather not interact with him. Unfortunately, he would have to if he wanted to get Twilight back.

Spike increased his speed in the air and angled his path at a slight angle to descend. The more he stared at Twilight tied up and being held captive by those big dragons the greater his anger rose. His anger rose to the point where his was gritting his teeth so hard they would have broke if he were not a dragon.

Spike finally landed in front of the group of captors with a big impact on the field, which caused dirt and rocks to fly away.

Dim Sum raised a claw to block the dust from hitting her eyes. She frowned and stared at the dust with a bit of nervousness. "Could they have sent rescuers?" She was sure not to let anyone follow them. "Is it one of the princesses...?"

Garble stared into the dust with a glare with the thought of an enemy. He readied some fire in his throat as the dust started to settle.

The group of dragons all stood and watched as the dust settled a bit, revealing two glowing green eyes. Garble was about to spit out some fire when the dust finally settled and Spike was revealed.

Garble's fire extinguished and his emotions turned from anger to a mix of confusion and shock.

"Spike?!" A couple of the other dragons and Twilight shouted with shock.

Dim Sum looked back at them with curiosity. "You know him?" She asked.

They nodded.

"We met him at the Great Dragon Migration," Garble explained and snarled. "And he has the guts to show his face to us again."

"He's probably here to save his pony friend." One of the dragons taunted.

"Yeah!" Another agreed.

"Princess Dim Sum, do we have permission to beat that little pony-lover up?" Garble said with a smirk as he cracked his knuckles.

Dim Sum looked at Spike, who had a face which told her not to do what she's doing. She looked back at Twilight and said. "You have permission. I will take Twilight with me, alone." The dragoness started to make her way towards Twilight in her companion's arms.

Spike put his arm out. "No, wait, Dim Sum-" He was about to run towards her to try and stop her but Garble and the other dragons blocked his path. Spike growled in rage as he watched Dim Sum grab Twilight from another dragon's claws and fly off.

"Spiiike!" Twilight shouted as she was carried away.

"Long time no see Spike," Garble said. "We missed ya." He cracked his knuckles once again.

"Get out of my way Garble! Just let me take Twilight home, and no dragon will get hurt." Spike warned. He wanted nothing to do with Garble and his gang and wanted to save Twilight as soon as possible.

"I don't think you understand Spike. We want to hurt you." 

Spike slapped his forehead in frustration.

"And soon we'll hurt your Princess too. So you'll both be hurt together. Won't that be fun?" Garble said mockingly.

Spike gripped his fists harder. He was so angry and was about to burst. His eyes lit up in his signature green color and his fierce gaze caught Garble, who was making his way towards him alone with a smirk. The other dragons let him go alone as they would soon get their turn afterward.

With a mighty glare, Spike also began stalking forward with a loud stomp to his step, which surprised Garble and his gang a little.

With each step towards one, another Spike's anger and Garble's excitement increased.

They stopped dead in their tracks when they were a meter away from one another. Spike glared up at Garble and the taller dragon, in turn, smirked down.

"I've never forgotten about you, pony-lover," Garble said as Spike just stared back at him. "I never knew when I was going to see you again, but I always knew that when I did, I would have to give you a really nasty punch I owe you," Garble smirked. "Now's that day wimp..."

The two stared at one another. Spike gripped his fist harder while Garble readied a punch.

Gable chuckled before throwing the first punch, and before he or any of the dragons could react, Spike side-stepped the punch and threw his own at Garble's stomach.

The other dragons stared at Spike's fist which was in Garble's stomach. The small dragon released the tension on his claw and took out his fist. 

Garble immediately gagged and dropped to his knees in front of Spike and held his chest. "Wha... What in the world...?"

Spike looked down at Garble and said with hate. "Think about hurting Twilight Sparkle again..." He stepped back a little. "...And you're done." Spike quickly kicked Garble directly on his right cheek, making him fly back towards his gang.

Garble's body dropped in front of the group of shocked dragons. The dragons took one look at Garble then back at Spike, who said...

"Which one of you is next?"






> A Raging Battle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Theme Don't read too fast now, I tried to sync the music with moderate reading speed.

Spike glared at the rest of the taller dragons, who all stood still, most with wide eyes and shocked faces while hesitant to move after what they've seen happen to Garble when he got close to the smaller dragon.

The little-angered drake then turned his head left, the direction where Dim Sum, who he thought was his friend, took off with his sister. She was the first kind dragon Spike ever met, the first he could become friends with, or so he thought. After they shared a gem cake she just betrayed him and his trust as will as Twilight's.  All just for pride and honor.

Spike noticed Dim Sum flying in the distance with Twilight in her tight hold bonded by ropes. He decided not to waste any more time and was starting to activate his wings.

One of the dragons, a pink and white scaled one named Fizzle, flew fast and readied a punch. As he neared Spike he threw a quick punch aiming at his face and missed.

Spike noticed Fizzle when he was halfway in his flight towards him to attack. He didn't bother looking at his fierce face and dodged successfully by leaning his upper body forward before backhanding Fizzle to a nearby tall rock, breaking it into pieces.

The other dragons snapped out of their thoughts and charged forward as well.

A dark purple dragon named Fume swooped down from above and swiped at Spike's head, who dodged the attack with ease by ducking. 

A fatter brown dragon named Clump stomped in front of Spike and raised his tail with spiked ball shape end and tried to hit Spike with it. Spike used his own tail and pounded the ground to propel himself upwards and evade Clump's tail. At this time, Spike activated his wings so he could stay in the air rather than fall back down towards the dragons.

After the dragons shook off their confusion because of the sudden wings on Spike's back, they followed suit and engaged him with a flap of their wings.

Spike's smaller form made it much easier to slip through their claws and tails, and it was nearly impossible for the older dragons to hit Spike.

Garble used all the strength he had to lift himself off the ground after his impact following Spike's counter attack off of him. He snarled and wiped his right cheek and smoke escaped out of his nostrils. He yelled in rage and charged Spike from the younger dragon's blind spot.

Spike scoffed on the inside thinking how dumb he was, reminding him of his presence by yelling out loud, as he teleported out of the way to evade Garble's tackle.

Garble and the rest of the dragons looked shocked when they saw Spike disappear right before their eyes as they looked left and right for any sign of Spike, and it was only when a dark dragon named Baff pointed up at Spike who was now flying and yelled, "Up there, get him!"

But before any of them could reach Spike, the young and angry drake put out both of his claws, aiming his palms at the group of dragons below, with his eyes on Garble the most.

The dragons stopped charging when they all saw a green flame in Spike's claws. The flame soon sparked and a green ball of something was formed. The ball grew a bit larger until it reached about Spike's size.

Before any of the dragons could ask anything, Spike fired the green ball of magic straight towards Garble, who in turn smirked and laughed. "Idiot!"

As the magic blast made its way towards Garble, the target just hovered in the air with mock.

"If dragons could literally swim in lava," He started to yell at Spike, who just hovered above him with a piercing glare. 

"Then why would you ever think!" 

The blast traveled past a few other laughing dragons. 

"That fire!" 

The magic blast got close enough for Garble to feel it's intense heat, even if it didn't bother him.

"Would EVER hurt me! You Stupid!"

Spike kept glaring with his eyes starting to glow green.

"PONY-LOVING!"

The dragons kept laughing to mock Spike.

"DRAGO-" Garble was cut off by the blast hitting him directly in the face. He couldn't describe how the attack felt if he tried. It was hot but wasn't fire. It felt as if it was as hard as a dense rock, but when it made contact on his face, it felt light as a feather.

"You're right..." Spike glared at Garble's hurt figure. "I do love ponies..."

The green ball then exploded in front of Garble, sending him flying back into boulders nearby.

"And you're trying to take one away from me!"





Dim Sum heard the explosion from behind her, and then the loud smash afterward. She gritted her teeth and thought, "Those guys don't have to be so rough with Spike. I hope they don't go overboard..."

"I-...if you're worried about Spike... don't."

Dim Sum looked down when she heard the weakened Twilight's voice. Her horn was sparking purple magic because of the ring on it.

"Spike isn't like those other dragons... He's much smarter and stronger than all of them."

Dim Sum just stared at her.

"And once he's done with them, I know he'll come and save me."





All the other dragons looked back in total shock as Garble was nowhere to be seen, most likely under all the rubble that was created by the dragon slamming on the ground. They all looked back up to see Spike gone.

Fizzle then felt something on his chest, and he looked down to notice Spike in front of him with his palm placed on his chest. The white dragon had no time to react as Spike unleashed another magic blast directly on his chest.

The other dragons foolishly stared at Fizzle's falling body and gave Spike an easy opening to attack them.

It looked as if the teenage dragons were moving in slow motion in Spike's fast processing mind. He first flew towards Clump and used his to throw the meatier dragon at Baff, who was too slow to react. Right after, Spike teleported behind Fume and chopped the back of his neck to knock him out.

"How!"

Spike looked over to Garble who was standing weakly not far away from where he landed after he was blasted.

Spike glared at him with glowing green eyes of hatred and said, "A lot happened since the migration Garble! I think even you can understand that I'll do anything to protect and save my friends." 

The other dragons appeared one by one in the rubble, some dazed and some angry.

The young drake raised his claws once again and charged two blasts in each of them. The teenage dragons realized this and they all started to inhale and prepare to spit their own fire breath.

Spike noticed this and altered his magic into two charging beams.

Soon, Garble began to blow his fire making the rest of his gang follow up. Their flames combined to make one big fire being thrown.

Spike reacted quickly and fired his two beams. The two beams intertwined and formed one greater beam which was wide enough the hit all of the fire being spat.

After seconds of traveling, the beam and flames contacted each other, which cause them to struggle moving forward against each other. The beam and flames were equal, for a while. But Spike had the advantage and he knew what it was. He didn't need to depend on how much air he has in his breath when firing his attack. He needed to depend on how much stamina and magic he had left to keep the beam going, and he had a lot. And he was going to use all of it to get back Twilight.

Very soon, Garble and the other teenage dragons felt their throats getting sore, and they were close to running out of breath. Eventually, they finally stopped spitting out fire with a large exhale. They all breathed heavily as the beam finally broke through the fire and headed towards them.

Spike stopped adding magic to the beam and glared down at them, blind with hate. "Don't ever come near me, Twilight, or any of my friends again..." He then turned and with a burst of fire, started flying with tremendous speed towards Dim Sum, with his back faced towards the group of older dragons getting blasted with his magic.

> The Princess Dragoness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Piles of rocks and boulders scattered the area where the battle between dragons had just taken place. There were still small pebbles falling and hitting the ground every second, and dust covered all around.

Garble and a few dragons behind him weakly threw off a boulder on top of him, revealing the world of his physical injuries. He, as well as the rest of his gang, had many damaged scales and bruises along their bodies. The red dragon glared up at the smaller purple and green dragon that had just beaten them in a fight flying away and chasing their leader, unable to accept the outcome.

He gritted his teeth and yelled up to the sky at the top of his lungs in pure rage of being beaten by a little baby dragon not even half his size.





Dim Sum unknowingly tightened her grip on Twilight as she flew away from the blast. She knew it wasn't fire, not alone. As soon as the explosion happened Twilight and herself started to feel that same tension in the air whenever powerful magic was being used elsewhere.

She tried to ignore it, but even when the feeling stopped she was worrying over it. Was that Spike or had one of the dragons learned to use magic? If so, did they hurt Spike even more than they needed too? Or was it that another powerful pony came to rescue Twilight as well.

All her thoughts vanished when Spike teleported in front of her.

She grew wide-eyed and gasped as she came to a stop. Spike knew magic, and he teleported in front of her. She thought herself.

Neither her or Spike said anything to one another. The only thing being transferred was physical emotions. Spike looked at Dim Sum with anger, fierceness, and worst of all, disappointment. Dim Sum was a traitor to him and he had no trust for her. She knew that much.

Without a word, Spike slowly descended towards the ground and Dim Sum, knowing she had no choice, followed him down.

They both landed softly on green grass on their two feet about ten meters away from each other.

"I'm not one to hurt girls, Dim Sum. Put Twilight down, and we'll talk terms."

Dim Sum didn't want to do what Spike said, she wanted to shrug him off and fly away with her ticket to respect in the dragon kingdom. But, unfortunately, Spike's piercing eyes and his frown didn't help. She could feel Spike's magic surrounding his body and how intense it was, like lava close to bursting out from a volcano. She wasn't sure if her own fire magic could challenge Spike's. She knew Spike was at least smart and powerful enough to defeat teenage dragons in battle and so she couldn't underestimate him like she does so to other dragons. She was a very cautious dragon when it came to her mission.

Dim Sum slowly and reluctantly put the restrained alicorn mare down with a bend of her knees and back. She then stood up straight and stared at Spike with silence.

"Now." Spike started. "I would like to know why you're doing this Dim Sum. And I want a clear explanation."

Dim Sum stood calmly, but with alertness. She knew Spike wasn't the type of dragon to give her a surprise attack, but she had to be careful being the only dragon standing to fight if need be. She contemplated whether or not she should answer Spike's question truthfully, let answer at all. She came to the conclusion that it didn't matter if Spike knew or not. What could he do? Follow her to the dragon kingdom and fight all the other loyal dragons and the king, her father, himself until one side stood? Not likely, Spike wasn't a brain-dead dragon like those other teenagers. He seemed a bit like her in a sense.

"I... wanted to take Twilight Sparkle, the powerful alicorn princess of Equestria to my father to gain is respect."

This was all a test. Spike, of course, knew what the truth already was. He needed to figure out what kind of dragon Dim Sum is. "I see." Spike crossed his arms. "And what made you think you had the right to take her away from her home?" He asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

Dim Sum didn't answer right away. In fact, she knew the answer herself, but she didn't want to admit it to him.

"Is it because she's a pony and not a mighty dragon?"

She was in the wrong. She didn't have any right to take Twilight away. "I-I didn't have the right to take her away." But then again. "But I needed to! My father's respect is a great honor!"

"But is it worth endangering Twilight?"

Dim Sum flinched a bit in shock. "W-what?!" She never had any intentions of hurting Twilight. She was going to send her back to Ponyville after she was done with her. Dim Sum gritted her teeth and used her magic to make her long teal and pink staff appear in her claws.

Spike raised his eyebrows in surprise and uncrossed his arms, ready for anything she would dish out.

Dim Sum pointed the blue orb on top of her staff at Spike and shot a magic blast at him.

Spike reacted immediately and sidestepped to his right, dodging the attack. The blast flew past him with great speed and blew up a few of the grassy grounds behind him.

"Dim Sum, please. We don't have to fight!" Spike tried to reason.

"Be quiet!" She fired another blast which Spike dodged. "You don't know how it feels to be looked at as a delicate little flower by the most mighty of races! You don't know how it feels to be weak compared to all the other dragons!" Dim Sum flapped her wings and with a powerful gush of air with her staff held up and flew in front of Spike, who pulled his arms up to block any attack. Dim Sum brought her staff down and tried to smash it against the young male dragon's forehead.

Spike used his claws to grab and stop the staff from hitting him. He and Dim Sum pushed against each other and held the staff in the air. "You're right. I don't know how that could feel like, and entire race looking at you like you're some useless living thing." Using more of his strength, he pushed back Dim. "But I do know what it feels like being unappreciated, and it's the worst!"

Dim Sum kicked Spike in his stomach and jumped back with her staff. "How would you know?!" She fired another magic blast. "You've never lived with dragons!"

Spike dodged. "But I lived with ponies! And I felt useless being around them for a while." He used his claw to catch a second blast Dim fired. "But after we made up, I found out what was more important than being noticed."

Dim lowered her staff. "And what was that?"

"Have true friends and family that love and care for you." Spike said.

Dim looked down towards her staff in deep thought with furrowed brows.

"I'm sure your father loves you Dim. You should know that too! Don't let this go to your head like it did with me and don't think he nor the other dragons don't care for you!" Spike said with a much softer expression.

Dim looked up and looked like she was about to say something before she quickly raised her staff and fired again. 

Spike teleported away before the blast contacted him, and he was nowhere to be found. Not in Dim Sum's eyes.

Just then, right behind her, Dim Sum was knocked down by a push from two small claws. She landed on the ground on her belly and accidentally let go of her staff, which she saw was picked up by a purple claw. Before she could get back up, however, she was pinned down by Spike's right foot and claw.

Now she finally realized the difference in power. She may have her fire magic with her staff to aid her, but Spike was much faster and stronger than her. She guessed it was her end.

"Listen to me! He may think that you're only his precious little daughter, but that doesn't mean you can't change that. I'm sure over time you can prove your strength another way, other than doing terrible things..."

Dim Sum gritted her teeth. "Why do you care?"

"Because I've gone that path before! I took the wrong path and ended up almost destroying Equestria... Almost... killing Twilight."

Dim silently gasped.

"I'm not saying you'll walk the same dark, wrong path I took back then. But it has the possibility of becoming similar. I don't only care about Twilight, Dim Sum. I could have beaten you to the ground, kicked you out of Equestria, and taken Twilight home. But I didn't. I didn't want to leave you doomed to walk down a dark passage. I care about you as well."

Dim Sum took in Spike's words and thought deeply. Once again, this dragon she just met a couple of days ago was right in their argument. She didn't know where she was going with this, what if taking Twilight hadn't succeeded? Would she try different, ruthless methods of gaining respect? She didn't know, and neither did Spike when he went down that path.

"I-" Before Dim could say anything she felt Spike getting off of her and lifting her up with her magic. She was gently let down on the grass in front of the drake, who was smiling warmly at her. "I'm sorry, Spike. You're right. I'm already doing terrible things to reach my goals and it could only get worse. I didn't think about Twilight and only thought about myself, which was really selfish of me."

"I accept your apology, but I'm not the one who you should apologize to," Spike said.

Dim Sum saw a hint of purple behind Spike and when she tilted her head to look behind the other dragon, she saw Twilight, free of her binds. 

"While I had you pinned I freed Twilight with my magic," Spike explained.

The sun started to rise on the horizon, making a beautiful orange and purple sky.

She walked up to the mare meekly with guilt and said, "I'm so sorry Twilight. You trusted me and helped me even if it was just an act, and I betrayed that trust with my actions."

Twilight stood in front of her with a small sad smile. "Apology accepted. I heard your conversation with Spike, Dim Sum. And I'm sorry to hear what you're going through."

"It's no worries." Dim Sum said with a shake of her two claws. "Like Spike said, I can always work to prove my father that I am strong with another way. Something less horrific than what occurred today and yesterday."

"I'm glad you realize this Dim Sum."

"Me too." She turned to Spike. "Thank you so much, Spike. You helped me so much today!"

"It was no problem, Dim Sum. It's what friends do."

Dim Sum looked at him with sparkling eyes, which made him feel weird. She started to slowly walk towards Spike who was frozen still. She puckered her lips and reached in to give Spike a kiss on the lips...

"I have a fillyfriend!" Spike said in shock as he pushed her away.

Ten minutes later, and Spike and Twilight were seeing Dim Sum one last time before heading home.

"Do you really have to leave so soon? You could stay at Ponyville for a while." Spike said with a bit of disappointment.

"Sorry, you two. But my father doesn't even know that I left. If I'm not home soon then there will be trouble." She explained. "And besides," She smirked and looked to her right. "I have to take these morons to the kingdom." The group of injured dragons glared at her. "I kinda promised them that I would let them get into the kingdom. They have the tastiest gems in the Capital of Dragons." Dim explained.

Spike's mouth watered. "U-uh... you think I could com-"

"Definitely not mister. You can't just leave me and Equestria behind! Besides, I would need to get my quills, inks, and sheets of paper to get all my notes down."

Spike chuckled.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Dim said, a bit sad.

"For now," Spike said. "We could always try to see one another again someday. We could introduce you to our other friends."

"Of course. Any friend is always welcome in Equestria." Twilight said.

"You guys are the best." Dim wiped a single tear from her eye and walked over to the group of dragons. She took out her staff and twirled it in the air.

Suddenly, she and the other teen dragons slowly started to turn into pink mist and vanish, and before she herself disappeared she turned back and waved at her two newest friends, who waved back with big smiles on their faces.

Finally, Dim Sum and the three dragons were teleported far away, to the Dragon Kingdom, the Captial of Dragons.

"So..." Twilight said. "I heard something... interesting."

"Interesting?" Spike asked.

Twilight nodded. "Mhm! It sounded like puckered lips. Spike~, are you cheating on Sweetie Belle?" Twilight teased.

Spike's cheeks warmed up, appearing bright red. "Twilight! I would never do that!"

Twilight giggled. "I know you wouldn't, Spike. Now, let's head back to our castle." And she took off in flight.

Spike sighed and followed her, up into the beautiful orange sky.

> [Dark Past Arc]  A Trip To A Horrific Alternative
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the town of Ponyville late at night, footsteps coming from a shadowed figure could be heard in a dark hallway in one of the many homes of this town.

The footsteps echoed throughout the hallway as the figure approached a large room. Inside the room, was a huge machine of some sort, with many different colored lights, large wires all around, and one blue control panel in front of it.

"So the doctor finally finished..." The figure said while looking at the machine with a smirk. "I'll have to thank him later." He walked towards the machine, and before morning he was gone in a blinding flash without any pony knowing.


***


7 Days Later

Doctor Hooves ran down the streets of Ponyville with an alarmed expression on his face. He ran past many ponies at the market who were purchasing goods for their own needs. He ran through the park where ponies peacefully talked, relaxed, or where foals were playing games.

He also ran past a little white unicorn at which he stopped and greeted, "Ma'am."

Sweetie looked up with an exhausted expression. She had baggy eyelids and her eyes looked empty. She replied with a smile, "Hi, Doctor! How's your day going?"

"It would be much better if you told me where Prince Spike is!" Doctor Hooves said with unease. "I need to speak with him this instant!"

"Oh! I was just with him! I felt a bit tired so he told me to get some rest. He had to finish up some chores anyways." She explained.

The doctor was heading there already, but Sweetie Belle would have saved him some time if he was elsewhere so of course, he asked. "Excellent! Thank you greatly young Sweetie Belle!" He said before he continued his way towards the friendship castle.

"You're welcome!" Sweetie yelled back at him, before continuing to trot back into town after rubbing her head from another random magic shock to her horn to which she made a small, "Ow..." at.

Doctor Hooves sprinted down the straight path leading to the crystal castle in front of him. He walked up the golden steps and rapped his right hoof on the golden door.

After waiting a dreadful minute, the door finally opened to reveal Spike, who had a broom in his claw. "Hey, Doctor Hooves! How may I help you?"

"Prin-"

"Just Spike! Please."

"S-Spike! I need your help! First off, where's Princess Twilight?"

"Oh, she went off with Fluttershy to solve a friendship problem. She might not be back for a few days an-"

"Good! Now, come with me, hurry! And tell no one where you're headed!"

The earth pony made a mad dash back towards the town and Spike stared at his form in confusion for a quick second before dropping the broom and following him.

Sure, it was odd that the doctor called for him alone and asked for no other pony to know, but Spike trusted the doctor as he knew him ever since he first moved into Ponyville. He was a warm-hearted stallion and has done nothing wrong that Spike has ever seen.

Spike followed him for about three minutes, with Doctor Hooves looking back at him every fifteen seconds. Soon, they reached what looked like a normal blue building in the middle of Ponyville. The doctor looked all around for any signs of any other pony possibly watching them before ushering Spike in after opening the front door. He too stepped in and closed the door behind him.

"Follow me downstairs." He said before swiftly opening a door a couple of steps away and heading down the set of stairs behind it.

The two headed deep into the basement, and with every second that passed, Spike could feel more nervousness bestowing upon him. Why did the doctor need him all the way down within his basement, away from the ponies above ground?

Soon they finished descending the stairs and Spike now saw himself entering a very long stone hallway.

"It's not much longer. I promise." The doctor said before hurrying onwards.

Spike felt the urge to ask him something, so he picked up his pace and started to walk alongside the brown earth pony. "So what's this all about?" He asked.

Doctor Hooves sighed. "I suppose I could explain while we near the time machine."

"Wait? Time machine?"

The pony cleared his throat. "I will explain that first then."

Spike listened carefully.

"I've studied science for years... my whole life really. It was my passion ever since I was a little colt. It all started with basic mathematics and chemistry, then it gradually rose to something much bigger!"

"Um... time travel?" Spike asked.

"No, no, that came much later in my life. About when I was as young as your sister, Princess Twilight. I meant my studies of creating matter. Heh, looking back that didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would have."

"Oh," Spike said in realization.

"So yes, long-story-short, I studied time travel greatly, and I figured out something fascinating!"

"You do know there's a magic spell for that right? Twilight kept telling me that-"

"I wasn't finished! Yes, time travel is possible with magic, and even only Starswirl The Beard could only travel mere minutes. But I've figured out that time travel using technology differs from using magic!"

"How so?"

"I'll explain in better detail just now, but basically changing the past or future works an entirely different way. With magic, changing the past can affect the future massively, but with technology time travel... er, well, you'll see in just a moment."

With those last words out of his mouth, the two finally reached the end of the hallway and entered what looked like was a lab with a huge machine in the center of the room and a gray mare that Spike immediately recognized.

"Derpy?"

"Hi, Spike! How's it going?" She asked.

"I'm doing great but what are you doing here?"

"Well, she's my assistant, of course." Doctor Hooves said before leaning down and whispering to Spike. "And I love to keep her around. She's a great friend."

"I see... so... why did you bring me here exactly?" The drake asked.

The doctor gave out a sad sigh and looked at Spike. "These past few days have been very stressful Spike. I tried the best I could but I couldn't do anything..."

Spike raised his eyebrows in concern. "What happened?"

"Last week, as I was checking some unknown readings on my time machine. It seems that something or someone changed the past drastically. A-and... I went back in time to see what had changed and... it's horrifying, to say the least."

"Wait. What changed? And why didn't anything in the present change because of it. Twilight said that time traveling is dangerous and should be prohibited because it could ruin our lives." Spike explained.

"You'll have to see for yourself Spike, I don't think I could explain it to you." The doctor started to walk towards his machine.

"As for why the future, or rather, the present hasn't changed, is because like I said earlier time travel works differently with technology. I'm sure with magic our futures would have been changed. But with technology, when a change happens in the past, instead of changing the future that change goes down its own timeline."

Spike scratched his head in confusion. "Um... could you explain that in different terms perhaps?"

Doctor Hooves took out a marker while Derpy rolled a white board into the room. He drew one horizontal straight line across the board while he spoke. "Say this is our timeline right here, from right to left when we were first born to the present. Now..." He drew two short vertical lines on the long horizontal line, one near the beginning and one on the very end. "Say this line on the far left is a point in our past, if we were to use magic to change the future, all of the future in our timeline will change. Are you still with me here?"

Spike nodded.

"Alright, now let's go back to that point in time, but this time when we use science and technology..." The stallion drew a diagonal line from the left vertical line upwards to the right, then he stopped and continued the line horizontally parallel to the longer one below. "The change makes an entirely new timeline. Much different to ours, and with a different present."

"Oh, I get it!" Spike said. "So if we used tech to go back in time and destroy a tree, for example, the tree wouldn't be gone in our present, but instead a whole 'nother time universe will be created with that tree gone. Am I right?"

"That's exactly how it works."

"Alright, so back to my original question, why do you need me?"

"We need your help to fix the alternate timeline, Spike. Like I explained before, it would be easier for you to see yourself but it is really terrible over there Spike."

"But... why didn't you get Twilight and her friends to help? I'm sure if they used the Friendship Magic they acquired they could do more than me."

"Actually," The doctor started. "I was going to call for them but I got some kind of message. A voice in my mind."

"A voice?"

The stallion nodded once. "It told me... something. It's all a blur now but I'm positive it involved you."

"Well... I would be happy to help. But what exactly do I do to help?"

"First," Doctor Hooves walked over to the right side of his machine and pulled a lever connected to it. "You must travel to the alternate timeline with myself."

Below the blue panel on the front of the machine, a metal part with four slots, holding three silver necklaces with the first slot empty, extended out towards Spike and Derpy. 

"What about me, doc?" Asked Derpy.

The doctor walked over to the necklaces and picked two up. "Are you insane Derpy?! There's no way in Tartarus I'm letting you go to that dreaded alternate timeline! It's bad enough I asked the Prince of Equestria to travel with me there."

"But I want to come with you!" Derpy said, her ears drooping.

"I know... but it's too dangerous for such a pretty mare like you."

Derpy blushed at the comment. "So it's alright for me to stand here and let you both endanger yourselves?"

"Derpy..." The doctor walked up to the wall-eyed mare until he was a step away from her. He stared at her with great concern. "I understand completely. But I'm prepared to face whatever dangers may appear. I just can't let you come."

"If you understood you would let me come with you..." Derpy scuffed her hoof on the stone ground and looked sad.

"Think about Dinky. What would she do if she lost you?"

"She wouldn't like a mommy who let her best friend trot to his end."

"She would never say that!"

"Well, that's what I think when I look at myself..."

Doctor Hooves sighed and walked over to the last silver necklace with a quartz carved in a shape of a circle at the front. He hesitantly gave it to her. "I'll let you come with us, on one condition." He grabbed her right hoof in his own and spoke with seriousness in his voice. "As soon as it gets too dangerous, you must travel back here safe and sound, you hear me?"

"If it gets dangerous," Derpy said before smiling and nodding rapidly. "Of course."

Spike walked up to the both of them. "Alright, now that that's settled, can you explain how we travel to the timeline Doctor?"

The stallion nodded once in response and cleared his throat. "Using the collected data my machine acquired, we can travel to the timeline that I have spoken of. It will use these necklaces to focus on our bodies and send us through time." He gave Spike a silver necklace that had an emerald instead of quartz in the middle. He then snapped on his own that held a sapphire, to which Spike and Derpy followed suit.

The doctor then trotted up to his machine, tapped on the blue control panel for a bit then looked back at Spike and Derpy. "Before we go, let's put on some cloaks to hide our identities. We might want to be anonymous if we have to. Our past selves will be there after all." He walked over to a wardrobe near the entrance and pulled out three black cloaks. Two for ponies, and one for a little dragon. 

"These cloaks have magic spells on them. Once you put them on, it would be impossible to see under the hood, nothing but a shadow. Of course, if you were to pull back your respective hood, your face would be revealed. It was hard but I did my research and got the best I could find." He explained as all three put on their cloaks without their hoods pulled up.

Doctor Hooves again walked over to the control panel. Once he looked over the information that was displayed one last time, he looked back at the other two in the room. "Now, is every pony and dragon ready?"

Spike and Derpy nodded with determined expressions and pulled their hoods up.

"Then let's get going..." He pressed his hoof on one last button which made the machine beep loudly before quickly making his way towards Spike and Derpy.

At first, the time machine seemed to do nothing. But when Spike noticed light coming from beneath him, he looked down to see the emerald on his necklace glowing bright green. He looked at the doctor and Derpy and saw theirs were also glowing their respective colors. He focused on his own necklace as he begun to witness the green glowing light start to emerge from the emerald and swirl around him. With slight shock, Spike found himself being lifted up by some force coming from the necklace, howling winds started to be heard, and a few seconds later he felt himself get lighter.

"What's going on!" Spike tried to yell over the wind coming from nowhere.

"There may have been a little bit of magic used for my machine, as electricity was never the best source!" Doctor Hooves started to explain. "And the way my machine lets us travel through time is different than what you think!"

"How so?" Spike asked feeling lighter every time a second passed. Also, everything in the room and even the room itself disappeared, being replaced by a void in various shades of blue, rapidly moving around them. 

"Instead of pushing us back in time, time itself is getting pushed forward towards us!"

"That's so cool!" Spike and Derpy said out loud.

"Haha!" Doctor Hooves laughed. "Why do you thunk I studied science my whole life?"

Then suddenly, all three of them dropped to the ground.

Spike picked himself up and rubbed his head. "I can't wait to do that again..." He said in a daze. He rubbed his eyes with his palms and opened them to gasp and see something shocking.

They weren't in the basement holding the time machine anymore, they were on dirt and rock, surrounded by many destroyed and blown up buildings. The ground also had massive cracks and looked nothing natural. To accompany the depressing atmosphere, large gray clouds with occasional lightning followed by thunder covered the sky, blocking any vision beyond them no matter how much one would try to get a peek. 

"W-...Where are we? And why is this place so destroyed?" Spike asked.

"Yeah... and there's no pony to be seen," Derpy said, looking around the area.

"Spike, if you truly want to know where in Equestria we are, then look up my good friend."

The dragon did as Doctor Hooves told and gasped in complete horror when he saw what was hovering above.

Canterlot Castle. A symbol of peacefulness, the true capital of Equestria, was in shambles before Spike the Dragon. Most of its towers had their tops blown off. The walls had many holes in them caused by magic, explosions, and what looked like two different tall ponies. There was also light smoke that could be seen coming from various places not only in the castle but all around canterlot. It looked like a war just occurred in the city of Canterlot.

Spike had one huge question that had to be answered or he was about to lose it. He turned to Doctor Hooves with a frightened expression and asked. "What happened to Canterlot...?"



> The First Of Many Dark Tales
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

Doctor Hooves looked down at Spike with a face full of sorrow. "I really don't. Apologies, Spike. When I first arrived here and saw this catastrophe, I immediately panicked and traveled back to our timeline."

"There isn't anypony around..." Derpy said, a bit scared. "Could it be that they're all..."

"No!" Spike shook his head in disbelief and ran down the cracked streets in search for anyone. Pony, dragon, griffin, or any living creature. He sprinted down street after street, finding nothing but destroyed homes, shops, and other buildings. 

Then, Spike came across something that both shocked and confused him. His good friend Pony Joe had a donut shop placed in Canterlot. And he just found it intact in between two destroyed shops, like is was protected by a shield alone.

The dragon ran into the building, slamming open its doors and looking around. Inside was a mess. The small restaurant's tables were all broken and cracked. The front counter was split in half and there was no one in the place. 

At least in the front.

Spike ran through the split counter and went to the back of the shop. He was now in the office and before him was Pony Joe himself snoring fast asleep on a couch against the right wall. "I knew someone had to be alive!" He immediately zipped towards him and shook him madly. "Joe? Joe! Wake up!" Spike cried out. But with no success, Joe didn't even give off any signs of waking.

"Come on man! Wake up! Please!" Spike kept shaking him for minutes, but there was still no progress. It was like a torturous, repeating slide show that would never end.

"Please..." Spike was confused, angered, and saddened. Whoever caused this was going to pay the price. No pony deserved this. Equestria didn't deserve this.

"There's some kind of spell on him."

Spike could tell by the voice to know who it was. 

The doctor kneeled down beside him, holding a device from a long handle in his right hoof that had a lens on top to which he looked through with his right eye. Spike saw that the lens had some code within it that he couldn't recognize. He surmised that the doctor was using it to inspect Joe. "I'm guessing it's some kind of eternal sleeping spell."

Spike heightened his dragon senses and sensed the dim spell around Joe. "It's too powerful, even when it looks like it's been active for a while. I won't be able to take it off."

"Once we find whoever put the spell on him, we could deactivate it." Doctor Hooves said.

Someone put this spell on him. Why?

Spike gritted his teeth and growled in anger, and he gripped his claws into fists. And before the doctor could say anything else, Spike bolted out of the store, passing Derpy who was about to head into the building but stopped and stared at him in pity.

The small drake had his destination set in his mind, Canterlot Castle. He arrived fairly quickly thanks to his speed, sprinting through the massive hole in the front door, caused by whatever monster destroyed Canterlot. He didn't bother checking every room in every floor. Instead, he headed straight for the throne room. Even if the castle was in shambles, some debris blocking hallways, Spike knew the castle layout well with his past interactions with it. Royal meetings, paperwork, helping Twilight and the other princesses. He knew this castle more than all the guards even, and it made it much easier for him to traverse around.

While Spike was sprinting across one more hallway, he clenched his teeth tight and growled under his breath when he saw the throne room doors broken off and on the floor. He activated his wings and was about to cut through the air but felt something touch them, he looked back and remembered he still had his cloak on with his hood up. The cloak the doctor gave him. 

He stopped sprinting.

The cloak reminded him something important. The doctor gave him a chance to fix all of this, and Spike knew that he would stop at nothing to do so. Doctor Hooves and Derpy was counting on him to fix this timeline. He knew he could not disappoint both those two and this Equestria's Twilight, Spike, and the rest.

He sighed, telling himself to calm down. He deactivated his wings and began to quietly walk into the throne room, the only noise being his small steps.

He looked at the large room in mournfulness. The red carpet leading to Princess Celestia's throne was torn all over by what seemed to be a savage beast. The red and gold throne itself was in no better shape. The back of the throne was cut off by a diagonal cut, and the extended golden marble to let one stand was in crumbles. Spike remembered all of the times when he would attend royal meetings, standing beside a bored Princess Celestia, who would be lazily resting her back on the back of the throne, with a scroll in his claw. He would leave Twilight home to attend these important meetings, and he now just realized how mature he must have looked.

What got Spike emotional the most was the symbolic stained glass windows on each side of the throne room. Most of them were shattered. From Discord's first defeat to Spike saving the Crystal Empire from King Sombra. To Spike, it seemed the latter was dealt the most damage. He was in too much pain to realize that the window holding the time when Twilight and her friends stopped Tirek was either not there or was never made at this time.

Spike walked down the long red destroyed carpet, all the way to Princess Celestia's throne. He then stopped. "N-no..." He sprinted toward the throne and kneeled down to pick up not one, but 4 royal crowns. "W-what the..."

The small drake was completely still for a few minutes. Taking in the depressing atmosphere. Soon, he choked a sob and looked down to his feet, letting loose a few tears.

"Twilight... Princess Celestia... Girls..." Spike then let out a loud sob. "Sweetie Belle... What happened to all of you?" He fell to his claws, gripping the ground like he wanted to dig into it. Soon his sadness turned into anger, he gripped his claws into fists and he raised his right fist, dropping it down with massive speed and force, hitting the throne room floor and creating a little crater.

He breathed heavily, feeling a hoof fall upon his shoulder.

"Stay strong, Spike. We need your help to fix all of this." Doctor Hooves said.

Spike continued to breathe for a couple of seconds before saying. "We can go back in time and fix this, right?"

"That would just create another timeline. It wouldn't help this one at all." The doctor said sadly.

Spike turned to look at Doctor Hooves, his teary eyes being hidden beneath the hood of his cloak. His stressed voice, however, didn't help mask his pain. "Then what's the plan?"

"First, we must gather some information before we make any sort of plan. What's the current situation for the ponies? What or who caused all of this? And how we can repair the damage it's caused."

Spike nodded, more determined than ever to mend this timeline.

"Let's head back to the front of the castle. Derpy was watching the area to warn us about any sudden danger."





Spike and Doctor Hooves appeared in their anonymity cloaks in front of the obliterated Canterlot Castle. Derpy came out of her hiding place within some debris of the castle to trot over to the two. After the doctor explained that they didn't find anything but the four royal crowns in what's left of the castle, they started to walk around the city that was once astounding to stare at in their cloaks.

"We must find any survivors in Equestria, and find out what specifically occurred. Maybe then we will find out how to return Equestria to the way it once was in this timeline."

"How about we check Ponyville?"  Derpy suggested. "It's the closest town to Canterlot."

"Yes. And it also holds some great possible sources of information. The Elements of Harmony, including Princess Twilight Sparkle – if any of them survived – should have some insight of what went on." 

That last part really ticked Spike off. "They did survive!" He said, full of rage. "...They have to be alive somewhere..." He really started to miss Twilight back at his own timeline. What if she needed him? But he couldn't worry about that. All of Equestria in this timeline needed help.

Suddenly, the trio stopped in their tracks when they noticed something far ahead. It was really hard to see down the street, but colorful dots in the middle of a gray city only meant one thing.

"Ponies!" Spike shouted.

"And there is many of them!" Derpy said, equally surprised.

Before the doctor or Derpy could react, Spike started to sprint towards them. "Spike! Wait!" The doctor failed to command.

Spike didn't listen. This was his first step into saving this timeline.

A purple unicorn mare, in the middle of the group of about 5 other ponies, was the first one to notice Spike and she screamed. The dragon running towards her saw the most frightened look he's ever seen in his life.

He mentally slapped himself in the head. Whatever happened to these ponies all around Equestria scarred them for life, he was certain. Someone in a cloak that completely covered their face sprinting towards them was no doubt going to frighten them.

Once the rest of their group noticed what the purple mare was yelling about they too started to lose it. Then one by one they squirmed and held themselves to their chest low to the ground.

Spike expected them to run, or even fight back after his stupid decision, but he didn't expect them to lose all hope so fast. He sighed to himself and stopped his sprint, coming to a slow walk. He came up to the group of ponies as they quivered.

"Uh... Hi, ther—"

"Were we late?! We're so sorry we're taking long to get back to the Grand Emperor's kingdom!" The purple mare yelled, cutting off Spike.

Spike just stood wide-eyed staring at the unknown pony.

"We were just heading back! I'll take full responsibility! Punish me, not them!" She shut her eyes in fear, dropping low to the ground.

Spike realized that these ponies... were broken. All of them, not even trying to get away or fighting back, thought that their fate was decided right then and there. This drove determination into Spike. He had to fix this world, and this was the start. "...Um. I'm really sorry for scaring you. I didn't come rushing here to... punish you."

The mare and her group opened their eyes and looked up in confusion while still terrified. "There's no need to try and trick us. We know we've done wrong by delaying the Emperor."

Spike had a feeling this Emperor was the key to finding out everything. "I'm not trying to trick you or hurt you! In fact, my two friends and I have come to help this timeli— I mean to help Equestria." 

Doctor Hooves and Derpy arrived behind Spike with their respective cloaks on, blocking all vision on them.

"We've come from a very far place and really want to help all of you. We can fix this, all we need is to know what really happened here. Please trust us."

A dark blue mare leaned into the purple one and said. "Just tell them what they want. It's not like we can do anything about it anyways..."

The purple one looked at her with sadness and nodded in agreement. She got up and said, "I-I'll tell you everything you want to know."

Doctor Hooves spoke up. "Do you know who caused all this?" He gestured to Canterlot's ruins.

"How don't you know? The Grand Emperor is the most feared person in the world!"

This Grand Emperor must be strong, Spike thought. If this person defeated Equestria and took it over could Spike really challenge him? He didn't know, but he had to try.

"Who exactly is the Grand Emperor?" Doctor Hooves pressed on.

She shook her head in response. "There's only a few who know his identity, most of them vanished or is too broken to speak. We even question his gender sometimes even if he has a stallion's voice. He's a mystery that's hard to solve in every pony's minds." She explained.

"Do you know how he caused this horror?" Derpy asked.

The pony again shook her head after looking back at the rest of the group for any answers. "All I know is that he single-hoofly took over a town named Ponyville before invading ours and many others."

"Ponyville? Why there? And why did this Emperor destroy Canterlot?"

"I don't know. He turned Ponyville into his kingdom that is now the most feared place in Equestria. Possibly the world."

"If you can. C-could you tell us about his invasion on your village then?" Spike asked kindly, feeling bad that he had to ask her to explain possibly this mare's most frightening moments in life.

"Of... course..." The mare said looking empty before staring down at the dirt.





This horrifying day can't get out of my head. Every night when I go to bed I dream of this nightmare, reminding me again that it's useless to fight back. It just won't stop... And Princess Luna's nowhere to be seen. To protect me and every other pony from these horrible scenes.

I was just about to hold a big announcement for the village from upon a stage...

But as I was about to say my first words, all Tartarus broke loose.

Several mares in the back of the audience screamed and everypony turned, wondering what was going on. I couldn't see much, being so far away. But I took initiative and started to make my way over to the incident. I thought it would help my image to the townsponies.

I was wrong.

As I galloped towards the commotion, passing many ponies who were evacuating in fear, I saw glimpses of the one they were running from. Soon I stopped.

Right in front of me was... I actually can't remember who it was, and that's the only part of my dream that's a blur. Who was our invader? The invader was the Grand Emperor himself. But it confuses me and everypony that most can't remember who exactly he is.

(Theme: Start)

He was standing right in front of me, casually blowing up buildings left and right with such powerful magic. 

I looked around and saw many ponies were trying to escape, but there was just one huge problem. There was a magical dome around the village, there was no escape.

I looked back at... him and I could still remember his malicious smirk. 

I wasn't thinking straight, my anger was controlling me. He was ruining everything!

I charged him, forgetting his display of magic, intending to attack him with my own magic. And he too started to engage me.

It was useless. I failed.

I was quickly pinned to the ground after useless minutes of fighting. He didn't even use any of his magic on me and I was defeated. As I was under him, utterly beaten, I began to realize it was hopeless to try and fight back, he was on a completely different level than me or any alicorn for that matter.

Then he said something to me that I still remember to this day. "Gather the rest of you. I see you are the leader of this village so they will listen to you. Once you gather them, we're destroying this village and going back to my kingdom. You will follow all my orders and treat me with respect. You will be loyal to me and I will not hurt you. This goes for the rest. Understand?"

I knew I had no choice that day, and I cried. After he got off of me, I laid there on the ground where he pinned me for minutes in a depressed state.

I got up weakly with tears in my eyes, my face a mess. And I started to slowly and sluggishly walk around the village. One by one I either teleported ponies to him or throw them to his location with my magic, mentally counting all of them. Each one of them held a face full of fear. Each one of them gandering at me and examining my face, telling them it was hopeless to fight. And every time I did so to a pony, I saw a flash of his frightening smirk, forcing me to continue in fear. It was like a horrifying dance I was forced to perform.

Mares, stallions, fillies and colts alike. This was best for them, and I knew it. It was better than running hopelessly. He was going to catch them no matter what. It would be useless trying to run. 

But I was saddened. I was about to change these ponies' lives. They would have lived equally among each other. It would have been glorious. That was never going to happen now...

Some ponies were hiding rather than running, that would do them no good. I quickly found them by using a heat scanning spell. They too were moved to his position in the middle of the village.

I was eventually finished after I teleported a white stallion. He saw my broken expression and he started to look downcast as well. He took his teleportation without a word.

I teleported myself back to the one who did this to our village. It was silent.

He just sat there, in front of all the villagers with a large terrifying smirk on his face. The villagers all sat down, looking hopeless, unable to do anything.

"You will all come with me to my new kingdom. You are all my slaves, I own you now." He said darkly, turning to me afterward. "You!" He called. "You have potential. You will be the leader of this group," He gestured to the townsponies. "...who is now a squad of mine. You will get your orders when we get back to my kingdom." 

I looked at him with no expression on my face. "Who are you?"

"You will call me the Grand Emperor. I am the new ruler of Equestria. May I ask for your name."

I looked down at my hooves. "...Starlight Glimmer."

He then took us to the outskirts of the village, and with cruelty, he forced the whole village to watch as he demolished our home in one magic blast.

(Theme: End)





"It's a blur to me on how he looked, we just follow his orders. Unable to do anything against it."

Spike looked at this purple unicorn with pity. "Starlight... I-I'm so sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault." She said with no clear emotion. "Anyways, we have to go. We had a mission to collect anything found in Canterlot and we can't delay him any longer. If you truly came to try and save Equestria, I would advise turning back now and heading back to wherever you came from. Live in peace for as long as you can before the Grand Emperor arrives and takes your lives away too." The group started to trot away, and Spike wanted to stop them. 

"No." 

Spike looked back at Doctor Hooves confused. "What?"

"I know what you want to do. But you can't." 

Spike turned away from the doctor, a bit of irritation towards him, and stared at the retreating group of ponies. 

"We have to act smart." The brown stallion continued. "If this Grand Emperor found out that this group was missing, he would try to find out where they were. Then he would find us before we have the chance to look at the situation. I don't think it'll be as easy as you think to stop him. Ruling all of Equestria by yourself is not a simple task."

"I suppose... but they are going back to him. Shouldn't we stop their torture?"

"It wouldn't help them." Doctor Hooves shook his head. "In the long run, it might end up hurting them instead."

Spike knew that the doctor was right. If they failed in saving Equestria then these ponies would suffer forever, but it didn't feel right letting them go off like that.

"We must head to Ponyville, and we will see what occurs there. We must stop the Grand Emperor."

Derpy nodded in determination, and without a word or looking back at them Spike began to lead the way towards Ponyville.

It would take them about half an hour to get there on foot, and Spike knew one thing for certain.

The Grand Emperor must fall.


> Unrecognizable
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike and his two companions walked silently for minutes, on their way to the town once known as Ponyville.

Ponyville... that town was now a country itself. With lights brightening the streets and small homes, it stretched far past the Everfree forest which was cut down to the point that it didn't exist. A few scattered trees don't define a forest after all. 

Appleloosa and Dodge City were no longer country towns of their own, with newly-built homes and structures from Ponyville slowly overlapping it. Even Pinkie Pie's family's rock farm no longer existed. It was all buried underneath the modern buildings that were forcefully built. It seemed that Ponyville's border now stopped just before the Badlands and Los Pegasus, and anyone who looked at the giant stone wall surrounding the city wouldn't dare try to invade. 

Finally, near the center of where Ponyville originally was, there was a towering, brown skyscraper, with multiple tree branches along its sides with leaves. This large building went past the gray clouds and lightning, making its roof not visible to those who inspected it from below. It was a symbol of this town... no, this city.

Spike, Doctor Hooves, and Derpy all looked at the sight in awe. They followed far behind Starlight Glimmer and her group on the small path to Ponyville, and the three stopped just before they arrived at the entrance to the town to head up a cliff on their left to get a better view of the state of Ponyville, or what they thought was Ponyville.

"That's... Ponyville...?" Spike said in wonder with wide eyes, staring at the large area of buildings.

"Starlight did say that the Grand Emperor made Ponyville his kingdom... I was expecting a change but never something so extraordinary such as this..." The doctor said aghast.

Of course, they couldn't see the other side of the border of Ponyville because everyone had their limit of vision, but it made it that more amazing. Even if it was made by an evil ruler.

Derpy looked at the city with a frown. "I can see why this is the most feared place in Equestria. Even if it's so large it looks so innocent. It's deceiving others who aren't aware of the danger." She said.

"It's all most likely a trick..." Spike said before looking downward to stare at the tall stone walls.

"We might want to stay away from using magic. We want to be unnoticed." Doctor Hooves informed.

"But in a town- er city as large as this it should be hard to find someone," Spike said.

The doctor shook his head. "We shouldn't act upon assumptions. We must act carefully and efficiently."

"Yeah, I suppose..." Spike let his eyes wander for a bit on the wall. He soon found something that confused him.

At the original entrance to Ponyville, the wall had an opening that seemed to let ponies enter and exit as they pleased. No pony was leaving, but Spike did see Starlight's group entering the city through it. "It's pretty weird that a huge wall is built if the Grand Emperor has an open entrance."

The doctor also seemed to notice. "We will find our answers soon enough."

"Will we even be able to search for them?" Derpy asked. When the two males looked at her with a raise of a brow she continued. "Well, I mean, if the city is so big will us three alone be able to find what we need?"

"Hm..." Spike put a claw to his chin in thought, using his other claw to hold up his elbow. "We probably don't have to search this whole city. You see the tallest building right there, right?" He asked while pointing at the tall structure with a claw. "That's most likely the Grand Emperor's castle or base of some sort. If not it looks as if it holds a lot of intel."

"But that's too obvious." The Doctor explained. "For all, we know it could be a large hotel or office building."

"Well, there's only one way to find out." Spike was about to descend the cliff when he caught something in the corner of his eye.

He looked back at the entrance to the city and gasped at what he saw.

"What?" Doctor Hooves and Derpy trotted over to Spike's side. They too gasped at the sight.

A changeling was greeting Starlight's group at the entrance.

"A c-changeling? Could that mean..."

"The Grand Emperor is a changeling." Spike finished for Derpy. He snapped his body towards his two companions. "My bet is that it's Queen Chrysalis that's done all of this." He said before glaring back at the city.

"But it doesn't make sense. If something or someone changed the past shouldn't she rule over Canterlot? Instead, it's destroyed."

"But on the other hoof, it makes sense why the city looks so wonderful. The ponies can provide love for the changelings easily. And there's the fact no one knows who the Grand Emperor actually is. Changelings live to manipulate their forms."

"Well, we won't be certain if we stand here. Let's get going."

"But how do we enter?" Derpy asked the doctor.

"Why, with science and technology, my dear, anything is possible." Doctor Hooves then extended his left leg and revealed a black device strapped onto his hoof with a small blue screen and multiple buttons. He punched a few of the buttons and muttered... "If my coordinates are correct..." Then tapped the blue screen, then, suddenly, the doctor's gem on his necklace started to glow, and it could even be seen through the hood of the cloak.

"What are you doing, doc?" Derpy asked with a bit of worry when she noticed that her's and Spike's were also glowing.

"I'm assuming that even if there's an open entrance to this... city, there may be some magical security around the border. And if there is, I doubt that whoever set up the defense anticipated technology teleportation."

"You're using technology to teleport us? How? And... is that safe!?" Spike asked, a bit nervous.

"I've tested it before, I assure you. And this latest model uses these gems which are linked to my time machine back home to carry our bodies through time."

And before Spike could say anything else, the three immediately vanished in three blue sparks.

They reappeared in a small, dark alleyway between two buildings.

Spike recognized this place, via the color of the two buildings, orange and blue, and the placement of the blue trash bins, one far in the back and one blocking the slim entrance. This was where he and Sweetie Belle once hid when they were playing colthunt with other foals including Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. He also remembered that when the seekers noticed some movement in the alleyway he used himself as bait to let Sweetie get away. It caused her to win the game.

This memory made Spike remember that Sweetie Belle, as well as the other foals they knew, were somewhere in this timeline. They had to be. 

He had to find them. He has to save them from this real nightmare.

This memory also meant that the three were still in the original Ponyville.

The doctor motioned Spike and Derpy to follow him quietly. He led them to the end of the alleyway and he peeked out over the garbage bin to take a look. Derpy fluttered above Doctor Hooves so she could look as well, and Spike hopped onto her so he could take part in analyzing the area, which was Ponyville's town square.

The first thing Spike noticed was that the ponies all looked broken and depressed. Not a smile anywhere, frowns glued to all their faces. The way they sluggishly walked. How they didn't speak to one another or even glance at each other. Even all of the color on their coats had a gray tint to them. Like when Tirek consumed their magic or Discord glooming them. This was nothing like what Equestria was supposed to represent.

The town square wasn't looking great as it usually was either. Most of the grass, trees, and bushes were dead. The confetti and banners were ripped off and no pony seemed to care or want to pick it up. The large and tall town hall was destroyed and collapsed in the middle of the town square, to which Spike hoped that no pony got injured when it occurred. The water fountain with the pony statue was cracked and broken, as the water didn't seem to flow from it anymore and the water already inside was dirty and unusable. The bridges that led to the other parts of Ponyville were also cracked, one was entirely destroyed, and the buildings all around had their respective damage done to them. This depressing scene and atmosphere made Spike feel uneasy and depressed himself.

Another shocking thing were the changelings. They roamed among the ponies like they belonged there, doing their own things. But the surprising part was that the changelings too looked miserable. Their black carapace also lacked the dark shade, replaced by a gray-tinted black. Just by looking at their blue eyes, one could see that they didn't have any happiness flowing within them. Spike even noticed something stunning; Aloe consoling an upset changeling. Aloe had the changeling in a hug, who was starting to weep.

"That's weird, shouldn't the changelings be happy since they rule Equestria and can gather the love?"

"Derpy, I doubt that love can still be emitted if this is how the ponies live." The doctor said.

"I guess so..."

Spike hummed to himself as he thought profoundly while still looking over the area. "Or maybe that's not entirely it... If I remember correctly, back when the royal wedding took place, Queen Chrysalis was the only one to seem evil. The changelings just simply... followed her orders." He put out. "The changelings wouldn't be unhappy, they would be starving and dying if that were the case. My guess is that something happened between the Queen and the changelings that made them look like this. Maybe she upset them all somehow?"

"We don't know for sure, but we should keep that in mind while we're here." Doctor Hooves said.

Then, when he looked to his left, Spike saw someone that made him perk up.

A white mighty unicorn with a blue mane and tail named Shining Armor was standing in the middle of the town square. 

"Hey look, it's Shining Armor..." Spike said with surprise, trying not to be loud to alert others.

"He may have some important information we can get from him..." Doctor Hooves said before trying to think up a plan to get to him without being seen.

"Don't worry, I'll bring him to us," Spike said, before bringing up his claw.

"No, Spike wai-" The doctor tried to warn.

But it was too late, Spike snapped his fingers and Shining Armor was teleported in the alleyway. He sat quietly against the wall looking up at the three hooded figures in confusion. Spike realized by looking into his red tired baggy eyes that Shining was stressed out. 

"Spiiiii..." The doctor stopped himself from revealing Spike's identity to Shining Armor. The cloaks would be useless then. "S-spine, sorry for being harsh here, but are you insane?! They could have detected your magic!"

"...O-oh," Spike said with wide eyes.

Doctor Hooves started to pace left and right in worry. "They could be coming for us right now! We must head back home! We're not safe here! We-"

"You really think he has defenses like that?" Shining Armor asked.

Spike, Derpy, and the doctor stared at him with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Spike asked.

"I presume that you three aren't from here, looking at your secretive clothing. And by his words," He said, referring to the doctor. "...you're intending to take down the Grand Emperor." When he received nods as replies he sighed. "He doesn't care if others come to try and defeat him, he would want and utterly enjoy the challenge anyways." He shook his head. "You should just leave. It's pointless to try and stop him. Many have tried and all have failed... I should know..." An image of two alicorn mares flashed in his mind, making him grow sad.

"We need to try!" Spike said to him. "We just need to get to her and stop her before anything get's worse."

"...Her?" Shining was confused for a moment but soon pushed it aside. "It's easy to approach him. He doesn't have nor he needs any guards. It's defeating him that's the impossible."

"So that's why there's an open entrance..." The doctor muttered to himself.

"I'm positive we can stop her. Where can we find the Grand Emperor, though?" Spike asked.

"He's not here at the moment." Shining Armor informed. "His base, home, or whatever he wants to call it is the tall tower with branches, you can't miss it. He's headed to his latest mission in Griffonstone. He's planning on doing the same thing to them as to us. He's even forced us to build more homes so he can rule over them as well."

"So let's take control here while he's gone, and get ready for him when he's coming back." The doctor said.

"No!" Shining suddenly stood up with wide eyes, startling the other three. "That's exactly what he wants. Every time he leaves he dreams of someone stepping up to try and stop him, just so he can bring them crashing down." He explained. "I shouldn't even have told you anything! You all should get as far away as possible while he's gone... It's hopeless..." And with that, Shining quietly exited the alleyway over the trash bin, much to the three's shock.

"Equestria really did lose all hope..." Derpy said with sadness.

"...Let's split up and search this place." Doctor Hooves suggested. "If Chrysalis or I should say the Grand Emperor since it's not confirmed it's her, is gone on a mission, it's the best time to get the information we need in this city." He walked up to Derpy and said. "Derpy, you and I will search the new parts of... Ponyville." Then he turned to Spike. "Spike, you can search the original town of Ponyville. It should have the most important info if what Starlight Glimmer said was true."

Spike nodded in understanding. "The true identity of the Grand Emperor." He held his chin with a claw. "Smart. You and Derpy wouldn't be able to defend yourselves if you encountered him... or her, so you two can search the parts of the city where most likely have less information, so you won't have to search as much even if it's a wider area."

The doctor nodded. "And with my technology and Derpy's excellent mailmare skills, we'll be able to scan the wide area quickly. We should make a rendezvous point somewhere first. So we will always know where to meet up."

"How about your lab?" Derpy proposed.

He shook his head in return. "We can't interact with our past selves, remember? How are we going to explain to ourselves who we are?"

"How about here? The town square in general. It's not too big of an area and I'm sure we could meet up and discuss privately in one of these alleyways."

"Alright then, the town square is our meeting spot. We'll start searching immediately. We must find who this Grand Emperor really is, what's his plans, and how we can defeat him and return Equestria to the way it was."

Spike and Derpy nodded in determination.

"Let's get going Derpy. I'll discuss my plan for our search while we head there. Spike, do you have a plan yourself?"

"I think I have something in mind, doc."

"Excellent. Come now, my dear. Let's start our hunt."

Spike let the doctor and Derpy out of the alleyway, and he watched them sprint through the town square past some ponies and changelings, who gave them no attention, disappearing behind a building shortly afterward. It didn't matter if they were seen, as long as they had their cloaks on, and with the Grand Emperor gone it was safe as well to do so.

He then looked to his left and noticed a pipe on the wall leading up to the roof of the building it was attached to. He used it to climb to the top of the building to stare down at Ponyville under the dark sky.

"Where should I start?" He asked himself.

Shining Armor spotted the shorter one of the three cloaked figures he recognized as the one who was called 'Spine' on top of a building like a ninja. He sighed in sadness knowing his foolish goal.

The Grand Emperor must fall.


> Little More Data Acquired
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike jumped from roof to roof on top of the many buildings in Ponyville, looking around for anything suspicious or anything that would look like to be important information. After leaping on top of buildings for a few minutes, he found a large pony he knew very well heading down a dirt road with a large cart in tow. 

He felt bad for the big guy. Not only in this timeline but his own as well. He just... hasn't had the time to give Big Mac the attention he deserved after he became a prince, the last time they hung out was months ago. Spike decided that when he got home he would try his best to hang out with his old buddy.

Big Mac was hauling a large cart full of stacked barrels towards Sweet Apple Acres, and he suddenly stopped when he heard something behind him. He turned around and caught a glimpse of bright green before it dimmed down and a small creature in a black cloak was standing there staring at him. It couldn't be a pony, Big Mac thought, even if it were a foal.

"How can I help you?" Big Mac asked.

Spike was shaken a little when he heard Big Mac's more stern and harsh loud voice rather than the more gentle and quiet voice he knew back in his timeline. The accent made it more intimidating. "Uh... Hey, Big Mac! I just wanted to-"

"Only my close friends and family call me by that nickname. You, stranger, can call me Big McIntosh." The red earth pony said staring down at Spike.

Spike was utterly shocked at the way Big Mac was acting. Did he really change this much because of the Grand Emperor? The drake cleared his throat and said. "Uh... yes, I should be more... formal..."  After Big Mac gave him a weird look, Spike continued. "Big McIntosh, could I ask you some questions involving the Grand Emperor?"

Big mac raised a brow and stared at Spike with piercing eyes. "And to whom am I answering to?"

"My friends and I have come from a very far place. And we intend to restore peace to Equestria. In order to do that, we need some answers so we can come up with a plan to take down the Grand Emperor."

Big McIntosh looked... sad for a moment, but he shook his head and gave Spike a glare. "I wouldn't be lookin' for trouble if I were you. Nothing will s-" He stopped himself, sighing and staying silent for a few seconds to calm down. "Nothing will stop him..."

"Please, Big McIntosh! Just a few questions?"

Big Mac gave an aggravated sigh and finally said. "Eeyup. But make it quick..."

"I kind of need to, given the situation," Spike said. "Is there anything you know about the Grand Emperor?"

"Nothing I want to talk about."

"Do you know where the Elements of Harmony are?" Spike asked.

Big Mac gave a sad sigh. "M-...my sister, Applejack, went off and disappeared. Rumor has it that ponies started an underground group, dedicated to standing against the Grand Emperor. If she hasn't been caught by him yet, then that's the only place I can think of where she'll be."

Spike nodded. "Anyone else you know about?"

Big Mac stared at Spike and shook his head in sadness. "Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were missing for weeks. Rainbow Dash is part of the weather crew. And Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy never come out to the streets anymore."

"Do you... know what could have happened to them?"

"I don't. Rumors and lies don't help either."

Spike nodded with understanding and sadness. "There's a lot of hidden secrets involving The Grand Emperor. I don't blame you."

Spike and Big Mac stared at each other for a while, before Spike asked one final question. "Big Mac... do you know where the Cutie Mark Crusaders are?" The small dragon's voice sounded nervous.

Big Mac didn't get angry at Spike for using his nickname because the question really got to him. "I-I gotta go... I have to get this cart back to the barn."

Spike look at Big Mac wide-eyed. "W-wait-"

"I don't think I can answer any more of your questions stranger. Please... leave me alone and run. Run far away from this place. There's no hope left in Equestria..." With that, Big Mac walked off, pulling the big cart towards his home.

The drake didn't know what to think. What could have possibly happened to make Big Mac act like that? It was so frightening seeing the usually calm red earth pony give out powerful emotions.

After he stared at Big Mac's shrinking form for a few minutes, Spike finally gave out a long sigh as he thought to himself. "I have to find out what happened... I have to dig deeper. You probably don't have hope Big Mac, but I can create hope for the ponies and other beings of Equestria." Spike turned and narrowed his eyes at Ponyville.

A couple of minutes later, Spike could be seen walking towards Carousel Boutique with his claws turned into tight fists. He stepped past two changelings who ignored him and came face to face with the purple door at the front. He didn't waste any time and forced the door open with a kick.

Inside, the shop was relatively organized. Spike had the layout of the shop basically plastered in his memories, working with a mare you loved did that to you, and he could tell no difference.

The drake rushed to the other rooms on the first floor with determination and concern, including the massive workroom. He found no pony and nothing out of the ordinary. He then went upstairs and checked the bedrooms, finding no signs of Rarity or Sweetie Belle. And finally, he left the most important room in the building for last, Rarity's inspiration room.

The room was a mess, like it always was, but Spike still made sure to check every corner and inch in the room. Sadly, he found nothing but a white cat.

"Wait a second..." Spike kneeled down and inspected the cat. "O-... Opal?"

The cat gave a small meow in response, and Spike couldn't believe it. 

He barely recognized her. Her fur was a mess and had lost it's bright color, she looked tired and sick, and her body was a lot smaller than Spike remembered.

"You're starving!" Spike said in shock. He stared at Opal for a few seconds in terror, the cat's meows snapping him out of his trance. He immediately picked her up gently and activated his wings. He knew one place that could help. It looked like he was going to meet up with the Element of Kindness sooner than he thought. He extended his wings and prepared to take flight, but right before he took off, he opened a window with his magic.

Minutes later, Spike landed in front of Fluttershy's cottage. He stared at the front door for a few seconds nervously, dreading what has become of Fluttershy. Starlight and Shining were broken, snd Big Mac lost all hope. Spike didn't want to think about what he was going to see in mere minutes.

He didn't knock, as the door was unlocked. To be more precise, the door didn't have a lock anymore. It was blasted off. 

His first steps inside were the most terrifying. It was silent for a cottage with dozens, maybe hundreds of animals living inside.

But the thing was Spike couldn't see any animals. Even if the room was dark Spike's dragon eyes were capable of seeing in low light. The room was empty, save for the all the furniture.

"It's going to be alright Opal, we'll get you some food very soon." Spike said in response to Opal's barely audible meow. The drake began his way towards the kitchen, only to be stopped by a little white bunny Spike recognized hopping around the corner.

"Angel?" Spike said in surprise. "Thank goodness, can you take me to Flutt-"

SHINGH!

Spike took a step back, sweat dropping down his forehead.

Angel drew out a knife and aimed it at Spike, bloodlust in his eyes.

"A-Angel calm down! I'm not here to hurt you!"

Angel grit his teeth and glared at Spike, who still was in his cloak.

"Or Fluttershy! I swear! Believe me!"

The drake saw he had little time before things got dirty, Angel was about to jump towards him. He then remembered the weak cat in his arms. "Angel, please! You remember Opal, right?" Spike gestured to the cat he was holding.

Angel looked at the cat for a second with a raised eyebrow. After staring for a few seconds he returned his gaze to Spike with a, "Do you think I'm stupid?", look before steadying the knife at Spike again.

"Angel... Opal's starving. Guessing by how you're acting right now, you know how bad it is in Equestria. Rarity's been missing and Opal wasn't properly fed for who knows how long!" Spike said, soon changing his expression to a serious frown. "It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, this pet cat is dying and Fluttershy's the only pony I know that can handle this. Please take me to her."

Angel faltered a bit, gaining concern for the cat in the cloaked person's arms. He looked conflicted for a moment before looking at Spike and nodding his head towards the stairs that lead to the upper floor.

Relieved that Angel finally trusted him, Spike followed the bunny hopping up the stairs one by one, down the hallway and to Fluttershy's bedroom.

Angel knocked the door in a pattern; one knock, a pause, then three quick knocks.

The door opened a second later, revealing a big bear. 

Harry the bear was confused at first, seeing a cloaked person carrying a white cat, but when Angel pointed to the bed with a serious look Harry let them pass.

There were animals everywhere inside the room, from mice to squirrels and even birds, all looking sad. 

Then Spike looked to the bed. And sitting there in the shadows with her mane blocking her eyes, was Fluttershy.

Spike couldn't make a sound. He's seen Fluttershy scared before, everypony has. And they all knew she hid inside her cottage every Nightmare Night. But this was different. 

Fluttershy was... empty. When Spike walked up to her and got a look, to his utter horror, at her hollow eyes, he took notice that they lacked any sign of life in them... lost nearly all of its color.

"F-Fluttershy..." Spike managed to breathe out in a low whisper.

Fluttershy's eyes snapped, looking directly at the cloaked figure now in front of her.

Spike visibly flinched back with wide eyes.

The two stared at each other for a minute, Spike getting more uncomfortable with each second passing.

The Prince gulped and knew he had to say something. He knew Fluttershy didn't have any drive to do anything, even something as simple as talking. What did the Grand Emperor do to her?

"H-hey Fluttershy." Spike finally greeted. "I'm happy you're okay."

Fluttershy didn't respond, instead she kept staring at Spike.

"I..." Spike realized he really didn't know what to say.

"Hey Fluttershy! I know you've experienced traumatic events, but can you stop sulking and come help me with a quick favour?" That definitely wasn't going to do anything good.

Spike gently walked over to the bed and set Opal on the soft mattress, if he wanted to help her then he would have to help Fluttershy first.

He then hopped onto the bed himself and sat next to Fluttershy. She either didn't notice, or just ignored him. Spike assumed the former.

Spike sat there with her for minutes, maybe an hour, maybe two, he couldn't tell. All the while trying to come up with something to say. He would have to be delicate.

He sighed. "Fluttershy, I know it hasn't been great for you... and I can't even imagine how you feel right now, but can we at least try to talk?" 

Fluttershy just sat beside Spike quietly, not even paying him any attention.

"I can help you! I can help all of you and your friends! But I can't do that if you won't at least speak to me..." Spike said.

Wind blew from an open window, making Fluttershy's mane flow a for a moment. Spike waited about twenty seconds for any response.

"...Anything?"

Then, Fluttershy said something in a quiet voice. "Those poor fillies."

"Fillies?" Spike asked with a little shock. "What in Equestria... Does... this have anything to do with anypony I know?! S-Sweetie Belle?!

"They didn't deserve it... nor did he..."

"He? Who is he? Is it a stallion? A colt their age?"

"It's all our fault... we caused this..."

"Fluttershy..."

"If it wasn't for our stupidity..."

"Help me understand!"

"No one would be suffering..."

"Please!"

"Especially him... and her..."

"Fluttershy!"

"..." Fluttershy stopped talking, still staring at nothing in particular.

Spike stared at Fluttershy for a few seconds in the eyes, her hollow, dead eyes... before jumping up and wrapping her in a tight hug. "It's okay..." He said with a sob.

For the first time ever since Spike arrived, Fluttershy moved more than just her eyes and mouth. She wrapped her hooves around Spike and gently sobbed.

"It was all our fault... everyone suffered..." She said.

"Fluttershy, listen. I know you and your friends. Whatever occurred, I know for a fact you didn't want this to happen."

"Y-you don't understand-"

"Maybe I don't. But instead of looking at the past I'm looking towards the future... a better future."

They sat there on the bed, holding each other in a hug.

Eventually, however, the two separated and looked at each other. Spike took notice that Fluttershy's watery eyes had a little bit more life in them than before. A big improvement, Spike thought.

"T-... Thank you..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"I can't stand seeing someone like you so... broken."

Fluttershy nodded. "Who are you?" She said towards Spike in the cloak.

"I... can't tell you. I have to keep it a secret."

"Well, I know you're not the Grand Emperor at least. He wouldn't do anything like that..." She said with sadness.

Spike sighed, then gasped in worry when he remembered Opal. He turned around and reached over to pick up Rarity's pet. When Opal came into Fluttershy's view, all of sadness was deleted, replaced by concern.

She gasped. "Oh my! You poor thing!"

Spike smiled, seeing his friend acting normal, but it disappeared because there were more important matters. "Fluttershy, you have to help Opal! I found her in Carousel Boutique!"

"That's Opalescence? Oh dear, what happened to her?" Fluttershy said, nearly in tears.

"Given the... circumstances, no one was able to feed her while Rarity was missing. I was hoping you could get her back to normal health."

"Of course I will! She needs food this instant!" Fluttershy took the cat from Spike and dashed out of the room. The dragon ran after her and followed her to the kitchen.

"It should be right... here!"

After getting Opal some proper food, Fluttershy and Spike sat in the living room.

"I really don't think Fluttershy's the one to question. I don't want her to return to that depressed state ever again."

"So what are you going to do now?" Fluttershy asked.

"My friends and I are going to fix this world, we came from far away lands."

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "You're going to take on the Grand Emperor?!"

"We have to. It's the only way to bring peace back to Equestria."

Fluttershy looked conflicted for a moment, before saying, "I see... Do what you have to do. And... save everyone." Save him.

Spike nodded. "Just stay here Fluttershy. If I come across any other hurt animals I'll bring them straight to you. If it's too much, I could get others to help. Can you do that for me?" He asked.

Fluttershy nodded. "Of course. Just leave Opal and all the other animals to me!"

Spike smiled. "Thank you, Flutters."





Spike was walking back to Ponyville. Behind him, Fluttershy and several animals were watching him in the distance. "Whoever you are... good luck..."

One thing Fluttershy said repeated itself in Spike's mind. "Those poor fillies." He had to make sure... He had to.

He had to find out what happened...

And who suffered.

Fluttershy thought back to the past sadly as she watched the cloaked figure nearing the center of Ponyville.

It was like she was there again...

Fluttershy stood silently in the rain, she was in absolute horror as she stared at a filly.

A filly who had a claw pierced through her chest.

"N-no..." Someone beside her whimpered.

Fluttershy heard another mare scream in devastation, but all her focus was on the innocent young pony who was stabbed. Who was... dead.

The monster who did this stood behind her, under the rain and dark clouds. Its sharp and deadly claw was dripping with the filly's blood, the red liquid dripping to the floor off the tip of its claw making multiple small splats when it hit the dirt ground. Slowly, it took out its claw and grabbed the filly before she fell to the floor.

"This is what happens! Do you now realize you can't defeat me? Now I'd advise you to surrender before this happens again!" A stallion's voice echoed in Fluttershy's ears.

Fluttershy couldn't run, couldn't hide. She dropped to the ground and whimpered.

"Tell me... please tell me this is a dream... A horrible nightmare... Anypony... please..."

Fluttershy found tears falling down her cheeks as she stood in front of her house, the cloaked figure long gone. She quickly wiped them and said, "I can't cry now. I have to do my part..." With that, she went back inside with her animals.





Spike snapped his eyes open in shock. He was still walking straight, he walked past buildings hoping to find anyone else that he could possibly question.

"W-what was that? A dream? A vision? What did I just see, and why?" Spike asked himself with a horrified expression. "That was from Fluttershy's point of view, I'm sure of it. But the... the vision wasn't clear. And that monster! Who kills a filly?! Just who am I dealing with here?!" The drake found himself breathing heavily with sweat dropping from his forehead.

He knew that almost nobody had the information of who the Grand Emperor actually was. But Starlight Glimmer told him something very important, "There's only a few who know his identity, most of them vanished or is too broken to speak. We even question his gender sometimes even if he has a stallion's voice. He's a mystery that's hard to solve in every pony's minds."

Spike had to find the ones who knew. Twilight and Rarity vanished, along with the princesses and Discord, seeing as he never found them anywhere. Could this mean that the other Elements knew who the Grand Emperor was? If so, he had to find them. 

But then Spike thought about his original theory. Starlight did say that many questioned the Grand Emperor's gender, as it was such a mystery of who he was... or as Spike thought, the Grand Emperor could be female. It could only mean one thing.

Magic.

The Grand Emperor is strong, no doubt about that. But if she were female and could use magic, that means she could use spells. Voice changing spells have to exist.

Either that, or it was a changeling.

...Chrysalis.

Spike growled. If it was her, he was going to kick her flank and make her wish she never became Queen of the Changelings, make her pay for what she's done.

And right when that came to his mind, Spike spotted a suspicious looking changeling standing beside a shop. Suspicious meaning the changeling was looking around anxiously as if someone was possibly watching him.

Little did the changeling know, Spike was above him on a rooftop in mere seconds thanks to a teleport spell. Because of this lack of information, the changeling began to run down a street. Spike followed closely.

Spike followed the changeling until the bug stopped in front of a shaddy-looking building, old and deserted with no door and just an empty doorframe. And Spike was about to head down and follow him inside but the changeling didn't go in. Instead, the changeling looked up directly at Spike with wide eyes.

"Horseapples!" Spike thought. "How did he notice me?!" The dragon stepped to the edge of the roof, jumping off in the air using his right leg and landing a bit closer to the changeling.

The magical bug yelped and started to run, Spike knew why.

"Stupid scary looking cloak!"

Spike chased after the changeling, and the sprint led them to the outskirts of Original Ponyville, the grasslands.

While sprinting, the changeling looked behind itself and gasped in shock when it noticed Spike right behind him. He made a sharp left and entered a small cave. Again, Spike followed him inside.

When Spike entered, the area was lit up from light in a hole at the back of the cave. It was... warm. He looked around but didn't see the changeling anywhere. "Odd... he had nowhere to run. He's probably in the-"

"Help!" A voice shouted, a male voice. "Please!"

Spike sprinted towards the voice and came to a stop right before the hole, which turned out to be a pit of lava. The changeling he was chasing was dangling from the edge, holding himself up using a rock sticking out of the ledge.

"Please help me, I can't pull myself up! I don't want to fall!"

Spike frowned and looked at him. "Do you think I'm that dumb? You have wings, fly out of there!"

"N-no, I can't! I can't use my wings-"

"Oh, I get it. You're trying to lead me to a trap so Chrysalis can get me. Not happening changeling!"

"What?! I'm serious! I'm going to fall if you don't help me!" The changeling said, genuine fear on his face and in his voice.

Spike glared at the changeling with cold eyes. "Then I'm sorry, I'm not falling for your tricks. That's how you almost took over Canterlot..."

The changeling watched with wide eyes and tears as Spike disappeared from the cliff. A second later, the rock he held onto broke off the ledge and sent him falling. "Goodbye cruel world..." He whispered to himself... only to be lifted up by green magic from the tail.

The changeling was brought up and was tossed to the cave entrance. He picked himself up and sat on his haunches, his heart beating rapidly. He stared at the cloaked figure before him. "You changed your mind? Why?"

Spike looked at the bug. "I don't know... maybe because if all the changelings are broken and depressed on the streets they wouldn't be here ambushing me?"

"True..." The changeling said with a nod.

"So you really can't fly?" Spike asked with a softer voice.

"No... I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not permitted to. Only the weather management are, and even then it's only for a couple of hours."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The changeling developed a miserable expression. "The Grand Emperor, he... he has a spell on all the flying creatures. It tells him when they fly and where they are... in any part of the world."

Spike's eyes widened. "Really!?"

The changeling nodded. "Yeah. He uses it so no one can escape by flying, even though I doubt anyone will try. They lost all hope." He shook his head. "It's also used for combat, where if the opponent tries to stealthily attack him in the air he'll know where they are. I... I didn't want to fly. I don't want to face him again..."

"So... this wasn't a trap? Chrysalis isn't here?"

"You really think Chrysalis is the Grand Emperor?"

"Well..." Spike said hesitantly, scratching the back of his head underneath the cloak. "She's a suspect in my head."

"Well, she's not. In fact, the Grand Emperor has her captured."

Spike looked at the changeling in shock. "What?"

The changeling nodded with sadness. "It's the reason all the changelings are so broken... We all relied on her, we were never really that independent. Without her or any leader, queen or king, we... the hive... the hive is nothing."

"R-right..." Spike began to feel sympathetic for the changeling. But was Chrysalis really a victim like the rest? For all he knew, she brought this on herself and all the changelings. The Prince could get some answers from this changeling in front of him, surely. "So... uh, what's your name?" Spike asked.

The changeling stared at Spike. "I'm Thorax." He stuck a hoof out and smiled. "Nice to meet you."

> Malice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you believe..." Spike started, carefully thinking how to word his question. "Do you believe Chrysalis is innocent?" The dragon stood at the cave entrance with his arms crossed, looking out to Ponyville. His back was facing the changeling he fist-pumped just a few seconds ago, Thorax.

Thorax looked down in deep thought, his mind looking over the data of his personal past with Chrysalis. After contemplating, he sighed and spoke, "In my opinion, I don't like the way she undertakes things, how she acts with strictness... However, she doesn't do malicious things for her own gains. She does it for the hive."

Spike gave Thorax an understanding look, nodding in consideration.

"When the Grand Emperor attacked the hive... she..." Thorax began to well up with tears. "...She saved me... And she tried to save all of us. I never hated her, I just disliked her because of her way to live. And even so, she saved my life."





It was finally the day. I was finally set. After years of contemplation, I was ready to leave the hive for good.

I stood right beside my little green personal nest inside my home pod. It was near the middle of the hive, not truly far from the entrance.

I picked up a few love capsules off my nightstand, which were actually medium-sized glowing lime green cocoons filled with stolen love. I absorbed the love and threw the capsules aside, feeling energy gathering inside me. This would last me a week if I were lucky, a couple of days if I weren't.

After mentally noting that it was time, I turned and started to make my way out of my pod, only to be stopped by another changeling. 

"Hey, Thorax. What's up?"

"Hey, Pharynx!" I said happily, trotting over to him. "I was just going to do some scouting." 

Pharynx looked at me with a teasing smirk. "You? Scouting?" A laughed for a couple of seconds. "Please Thorax, like an Insider would know how to do that!" 

There were three main roles as a changeling drone. Scouters, who went out and did field work away from the hive. Guards, who guarded the hive itself. And the Insiders, who maintained the hive. Of course, there were more specific roles inside each of the three main ones. For example, my brother here replaces ponies when he's on duty to steal love to bring back to the hive.

"I would like to try," I told with a smile on my face. "It seems fun." I really didn't think that. Like, I really didn't approve of doing that. But my brother was an easy one to fool. Has been ever since we were little.

"Tell that to Chrysalis." He said with his smirk lingering. "But I really can't believe you signed up to be a scouter."

I chuckled at his joke, then replied. "Like I said, it looks fun. Hey, maybe I'll be on the field with you."

He rolled his blue eyes before saying, "Perhaps."

"Anyways," I started before he could delay me further. "I should get going. I can't wait!" And I wasn't lying. I wanted to get out of here quickly before the Queen caught on to what I was doing.

"Alright, later bro! I'm gonna take a nice nap." Pharynx waved me off goodbye before returning to his own pod right beside mine.

I beamed and rushed out, slowing my pace casually as I got closer to the entrance—or in my case exit—to the hive.

I stopped all at once, however, when an echoing voice rang in my ears.

"Thorax?"

I turned and realized I was in front of my Queen. Queen Chrysalis.

"Uh..." I froze in place, trying not to look scared. "Yes, my Queen?" I asked, nervousness flowing onto my face, almost forgetting to bow.

"It's quite odd seeing you here." She raised an eyebrow with a questioning look. "Are you leaving?" She asked with curiosity.

"Er, yes! I, uh... I was just going out to do some scouting. Perhaps near Ponyville?" I stated, sweat starting to drop down my forehead.

"But you usually process the love. I thought you loved your job? Are you sick?" Chrysalis's concern was frighteningly increasing. I had to leave, this was my last chance. If I were to get caught here, it would be all over.

"Um, yes, I do love processing love. But... I suddenly grew the interest to scout."

Her brows furrowed as she leaned in closer, inspecting me all over with a hoof to her chin. "It's quite weird though. I always had a feeling you hated seeing ponies."

I didn't hate ponies, not at all. I just hated staring at them while their love was being taken away unknowingly.

Fortunately, Chrysalis stood straight with a calm aspect. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with sudden changes in passion." She said with a casual wave of a leg. "You may le-"

"My Queen!"

I was rooted in place when a changeling with guard armor rushed up to Chrysalis, who turned her head towards him with a serious glint in her eyes. "What is it?" She asked.

"Something's-"

*BOOM*

The guard was thrown away by a powerful force coming from the entrance to the hive. I would have been tossed as well, but Chrysalis stood in front of me protectively.

"Who dares to oppose the hive?!" She yelled with anger, her eyes lighting up green. But soon that anger was doubled when she and I saw the one responsible at the front.

I stood in fear as I stared at a... shadowy figure. Horrifyingly, there was also a changeling guard below where he stood, I assumed he was unconscious for my own mental good. 

"That was me. You could call me... Malice." The figure smirked at Chrysalis. "At last I have found you and your pathetic hive!" He said gleefully.

Chrysalis snarled. "We'll see who's pathetic soon enough, you're a fool to have come here!"

Malice chuckled darkly. "You think I'm a fool who doesn't know my own strength? I could take your hive thrice without breaking a sweat!"

Chrysalis presented our intruder with a glare. "Drones! Capture that wretched moron!" She pointed strongly at this unknown attacker.

I tilted my head upwards to see dozens of changelings pouring out of the shadows of the hive. All buzzing their way towards Malice.

But the next thing that occurred flashed by too quickly for me to interpret. All the changelings were blasted back all the way behind myself and Chrysalis by some unknown force, rocking the hive greatly.

When I looked at my fellow changelings, I saw with dread that they were all injured, some twitching, unable to move due to the damage.

The quake from the force that beaten all the changeling drones caused a large boulder to break apart from the ceiling. And because I was distracted by the other changeling's defeat, I didn't notice the boulder plunging down directly towards me. It wasn't until my Queen acted that I realized what would have happened to me.

"Thorax, move!" Queen Chrysalis, ruthless Queen of the Changelings, the one who attempted to overrun innocent ponies, the one who was plotting revenge, the one I disliked so much as a leader, pushed me out of the way of the boulder which would have killed me.

I was pushed to the ground, and I flipped over on my back with fright to see that Chrysalis didn't have time to run or fly out of the way.

*SMASH!*

The large rock smashed onto my Queen and into the ground, creating a dustcloud.

I stood up with tears. "Queen Chrysalis!" I didn't want this to happen. Sure, I disliked her ever since I was born, but no one deserved this, not even her. 

All I could see was smoke and dust caused by the boulder's impact, no sign of Chrysalis. Then, I heard someone behind me and recognized my brother standing there with wide, shocked eyes. Shaking my head and turning back towards where Chrysalis was, I began to sprint towards the smoke.

Before I reached the smoke, however, it dissolved. Unblinding my eyes to see a rocky floor.

I was about to run over and try to find Chrysalis but a shining green light escaping the small gaps between the rocks stopped me.

Chrysalis's magic sent the stones flying back, revealing her wounded form with glowing piercing green eyes directed at Malice. She hissed and buzzed her wings before aggressively flying towards the figure who I thought had killed her.

The fight was over in less than a minute.

Chrysalis was plummeted back, slamming against the hive's wall to my right, creating another cloud of smoke, albeit smaller. 

The infiltrator laughed mockingly. "Is that the best you've got? And here I thought you were the almighty ruler of the changelings! Haha! I thought you took down Celestia?!" He held his chest because of all the laughing and dropped down to prone.

Taking this chance, I hurried over to Chrysalis and tried to lift her up with my magic, causing her to groan in pain. After a few seconds of struggling, I felt the weight of her get halved as Pharynx pitched in his own magic to help. Soon, we hurried and took her to the far back of the hive, passing many other changelings—who went forward to attempt to take down Malice—escaping through a well-hidden back entrance.

Minutes later, as soon as we were far enough, the hive was pulverized in an explosion behind us.


***


One week later...

Chrysalis, Pharynx, and I stood in front of Ponyville's front gates... or what used to be Ponyville. The town seemed to be double the size, and shockingly more buildings were being built.

It took some time, but my brother and I convinced Chrysalis to heal concealed in a nearby forest before confronting the infiltrator, Malice, again. And while she did, I went out along with Pharynx to scout and get some information. I guess I finally got what I 'wanted'.

We found out that Malice deemed himself "The Grand Emperor", and took rule over Ponyville after destroying Canterlot. A week later after Chrysalis was fully healed, and we now stood at the front of his town.

Chrysalis looked angrier than possibly any changeling has ever seen before, judging by her angry glowing eyes and sparkling horn, her gritted teeth, and her levitating mane. I was glad I wasn't the one she was mad towards. She stormed into Ponyville and my brother and I followed close behind.

What I noticed shocked me.

All around my fellow hive mates were walking around freely with the ponies, all looking unhappy. But one look at Chrysalis made them brighten up... surprisingly, even the ponies looked as if they gained some hope. No doubt they thought she was going to fix all of this.

"Our Queen!"

"She has returned to us!"

"We'll finally be victorious."

In the back of my head, a thought of retreat was alarming. I didn't know why, but I was about to find out I suppose.

Chrysalis started to approach a tall skyscraper with branches sticking out. But soon she stepped over a hidden magical dome... I can't remember the color of the magic oddly.

But it was too late anyways. The one who destroyed our hive, and the one who all of us changelings hated slammed the front door to the high-rise open, and stepped out with glowing eyes and a smirk. "I see you came for round two." He said.

"Enough!" My Queen yelled. "Your rain ends here 'Grand Emperor'. And the changelings will begin to rule Equestria!" She leaped at the figure with her horn glowing, and the figure responded with his own engage. When the two collided in the middle the area shook and the magic's light blinded the spectators.

This 'Grand Emperor' was swift. Chrysalis didn't stand a chance. He would dodge every attack thrown at him and would respond accordingly. He had powerful magic, for sure, but what really became my Queen's defeat, was his physical strength. 

The battle had taken three minutes. Chrysalis the loser. She laid on the ground, grunting in pain below the figure, who was standing with a smirk.

Many changelings and even some ponies yelled and screamed. I couldn't blame them.

We were done for. There was no point fighting a losing battle. It was over.

The figure looked at me and Pharynx. "You two." He said. "You came with her here, correct?"

My brother nodded with great fear in his eyes, the fear grew when the Grand Emperor started to pace towards us.

I couldn't move, and now, neither could my brother. We couldn't fight him after he easily took down Chrysalis. It would be outright stupid.

Chrysalis has failed. The hive failed. We failed.





Spike let out a long sigh, by looking at Thorax's face, he could tell his story was genuine. "So I guess she is innocent then." He sat in front of the changeling and gave him a small sad smile. "Another person to set free in this world."

Thorax conceived a questioning expression towards Spike and asked, "You're trying to put an end to the Grand Emperor?"

Spike's face hardened. "I sure am. I'm currently trying to find a way to bring him down. What his goals are. How to stop it. To fix everything... I need to end all this madness."

"Better than going in blindly." Thorax agreed. "What do you know already?"

Spike's face drifted down in thought. "All I know about this emperor is that he's a powerful monster who killed an innocent filly." He said with a hint of disgust and rage in his voice. "Now I know his name, Malice. Other than that, I'm blind."

"Well, that's all I know to tell you, unfortunately... Sorry." Thorax said with his ears dropped.

"Hey, it's no sweat. It seems he somehow manipulated everyone's memories to make it difficult to uncover his secrets. It has to be some kind of spell..."

"Could be. I can't doubt it looking at what he's accomplished already." The changeling said. "What are you going to do now?" He asked.

"Search deeper in Old Ponyville," Spike said with the name he thought of for the area where Ponyville originally covered. "I know some other places to try and visit. It could help me and my friends."

"Well, whatever you do. Don't go to the Grand High-Rise." Thorax warned. When Spike washed him with a confused raised eyebrow, he continued. "The tallest building by far in New and Old Ponyville. You couldn't have missed it."

"No," Spike pictured the tall wood and stone skyscraper near the middle of Old Ponyville, tall enough to pass the clouds with dozens of branches sticking out of it. "I haven't. And Shining Armor told me about it too... said it was his home."

Thorax presented a concerning look towards Spike and said, "As you now know, Chrysalis walked over a hidden magical barrier which caused an alarm. The Grand Emperor was notified immediately and rushed out to confront her. I'm afraid if you go out and trip the alarm. I remember just a week ago a crazy stallion ran along the edge of the invisible barrier, which seemed to circle around the Grand High-Rise alone, while the Grand Emperor was out in the Dragon Lands. No one expected him to arrive back so soon. And no one dared to trip the alarm again after that."

"What did the Grand Emperor do to the stallion?" Spike asked seriously.

"Nothing much. If anything, the Grand Emperor was just relieved that he arrived on time before the stallion got in. He just transferred him far away down in New Ponyville." Thorax replied calmly.

"It seems like something's important hidden away there. I wonder what it is."

"We all do. It's not like we can just... go and find out though."

"Yeah..." Spike stared at the changeling for a few seconds before asking, "By the way, what were you doing before I... you know.... chased you down all the way to this cave?"

"Oh!" Thorax brightened up. "That's where our secret base is!"

Spike blinked. "Our?"

"The Revolutionary Organization. It's a group of ponies, changelings, some other creatures and even some dragons that wish to bring down the Grand Emperor. I'm sure they'd love a new member like yourself."

A group dedicated to bringing peace back in Equestria. Spike, along with the Doctor and Derpy, could use this backup. It would give them much more of an advantage.

But, Spike thought, he would rather look around for a bit before meeting this group. Better to go out now than later for the risk of the Grand Emperor or 'Malice' arriving back.

"I'll think about it..." Spike eventually said. "I'm interested, but not now."

"Do you remember where the entrance to the hideout is?" Thorax asked. "I don't want you wandering randomly."

"Of course I do!" Spike said with a smile. "It's right beside my favorite comic store." 

"Great!" Thorax said with joy before standing up. "Just come whenever you're ready. I'll let them know to expect you."

"Alright, sounds good." The cloaked dragon also stood.

"Just make sure you're back before 5 hours, the end of today. That's..." He sighed. "When the Grand Emperor is expected to be back."

Sweat dropped from Spike's forehead. He didn't call for the Grand Emperor to be back so soon. "I'll keep that in mind." He replied.

The changeling nodded back. "Good." Then he started to make his way out of the cave. "I have to get back to the hideout. I'll explain what happened when I get there." Then, Thorax took off in a sprint, leaving Spike at the cave entrance by himself.

After a few minutes of thinking about the conversation they just had, Spike finally began to make his way back to Old Ponyville.

Now, where do I head next?





"Are you sure you don't know anything?" The doctor asked with a frown, gaining frustration and losing hope.

The teal pony shook her head silently, walking away with the same amount of volume. The doctor sighed in frustration before trotting up to Derpy, who was nearby with a stallion walking away. "Any luck?" He asked.

Derpy shook her head sadly. "It's as if I'm not even talking to ponies! Just empty souls."

"I agree." Doctor Hooves said. "It seems no one even has a clue what's going on out here. We're nearly at the edge of the border..."

"Maybe we should go back?" Derpy suggested.

"Perhaps we may have to, see if Spike's having any luck. Better than staying here and wasting our time."

Just then, the two heard an echoing 'Psst!' from somewhere. They turned their heads to the sound and their eyes were brought to an alley.

"Creepy..." Derpy said with a shiver.

The doctor patted the grey pegasus a couple times with care, before signalling her to follow him. They slowly and sneakily trotted over to the entrance of the alleyway.

"Nothing but darkness." The doctor noted. He casually walked in surveying the area.

Derpy followed him but stopped in fear a couple of steps later. "D-doctor?" She shakily pointed a hoof at dark mist flowing out of the many cracks on the walls. It seemed... magical.

The doctor, noticing the dark mist, stepped away from the smoke and went alongside Derpy, standing in front of her protectively.

To their utter shock and confusion, the smoke gathered in the middle of the alley and slowly started to convert to a physical, shadowy Equine body.

First, the two scared time travelers realized a sharp red horn on the forehead.

"Impossible..." The doctor muttered in disbelief.

Then appeared two red slit pupils, inside of glowing green scleras with purple flames escaping at the edges.

"It can't be!" Derpy whimpered.

The doctor gritted his teeth. "Y-you're..."

A red cape appeared on the figures back, a black spiky mane and tail formed on its head, and a tough silver array including armor on both its legs, chest, and neck, with a silver crown to finish it off.

"...King Sombra."





Spike stood still, staring up at the beaten up building in front of him with thought. He hummed to himself and tapped his chin, beginning to waltz forwards, intending to have a look inside.

He climbed up the small set of white stairs and entered through the broken doorframe. Just like the rest of the structures. He was met with three hallways, one to the right and left and one running down in front of him, the walls filled with lockers and coathangers. The dragon made a quick decision and went straight ahead, passing many rooms intended for learning. 

He was sort of homeschooled, that's what he told himself anyway. Living with Twilight Sparkle brought in a lot of books. A lot of books with knowledge. And gaining knowledge meant learning. He had no need for public school.

He knew that Sweetie Belle's classroom was just up ahead—from what she told him—but before he reached it, he came across large windows which allowed him to see the playground courtyard.

"That's... weird." Spike thought with an eyebrow risen as he stared at the many foals playing around like nothing was wrong, on the biggest playground he's ever seen. It was five times as big as the average large park. He also noticed Ms. Cheerlie and some other teachers standing on the sidelines, watching the kids with frowns on their faces. 

The drake narrowed his eyes. "Something's wrong here." He stared at the foals for a few more seconds before taking off down the hallway in a sprint, his steps echoing through the halls. He circled a corner and stopped in front of the door which led outside. He opened it with a claw and stepped out, turning left and sprinting once more. When he neared the teachers he lowered his pace to a jog.

"They seem soulless." He wasn't that all surprised, looking at how all the other adults were the same. It surprised him when he took notice that the foals weren't depressed. Sure, they had a lack of color, but they were the only ones the dragon actually saw with smiles on their faces. When he thought about it, he didn't see any foals outside the school grounds. 

That meant that they were all here.

And that meant Sweetie Belle and the other crusaders could be here.

Spike paused to look at all the foals, inspecting them individually. "Rumble, Featherweight, Pipsqueak..." The three were at the top of the biggest slide, about to slide down. "Snips and Snails..." Swinging on the duo swingset. "Tender Taps, Twist, Zipporwhill." They laughed as they chased each other. 

The Prince recognized all these foals. "Button Mash, Dinky Doo, Ruby Pinch, Crackle Pop, Shady Daze..." He kept naming foals he knew until he came to the conclusion that five of them from Old Ponyville were missing; The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara.

"Hey!"

Spike snapped his head towards the hushed voice, sighting a foal behind a corner. It was hard to tell who it was because of the dimness of the corner, and before Spike carry out an action, the foal retreated behind the wall.

When the drake eventually reached and turned the corner, he was met with the foal who called him, Diamond Tiara.

Without saying a word, Diamond motioned the hooded figure to follow her.

Spike raised a brow, watching her trot away silently before beginning to pace himself.

She led him to her classroom. Ms. Cheerlie's classroom.

As he entered, he immediately took notice of Silver Spoon, who was sitting at the edge of the teacher's desk with her hind legs dangling off. She stared back at him, emotions unknown to Spike. He also kept his senses on Diamond, who he thought would be one to try and throw his cloak off. To his relief, Diamond just shut the door, making her way to one of the front desks to sit on top.

Spike decided to just stand silently closest to the door.

"So," Diamond said. "I was watching you since you first entered the playground." She informed. "I noticed that you acted... different."

"Different meaning not acting like all hope is lost or that there's nothing currently wrong at all, correct?" Spike asked.

The pink filly nodded. "Who are you then? If you were a part of the R.O. you would have told me by now." She pried.

"The Revolutionary Organization." Spike took a couple of seconds to think for himself. He always answered with a, I'm from faraway lands, or something of the sort. He thought he might as well give himself a name. Of course, he couldn't give himself the name of Spike like the doctor instructed.

"My name is... Spine." He said, remembering the nickname Doctor Hooves gave him on the spot back with Shining Armor. "I came here with my two friends. We're attempting to stop the Grand Emperor."

Diamond narrowed her eyes, Silver's gave a hostile glint behind her glasses with a crack in the left lens.

"How do we know you're not lying?" Silver asked. "You could be working for the Grand Emperor."

"From what I've been told, this emperor works alone." Spike countered.

The two fillies gave each other a glance before nodding.

"Very true." Diamond agreed. "Who told you that?"

"The Captain of the Royal Guard, Shining Armor. He also told me the Grand Emperor is out on a mission in Griffonstone. So I don't have enough time."

"Also true." The pink filly said with a short nod. "Why did you come to the Ponyville school?"

"I was hoping to find someone here, but it seems they aren't. Do you know why those foals act like that?" The dragon asked.

"It's because of a magic spell." Silver pushed up her glasses. "They're all being brainwashed, they don't realize what's happening." She hopped off the desk and trotted over to the windows at the back of the class, peering through with a sad frown. "It's a loop method. One where they keep playing tag over, and over, and over... never getting tired."

"That's... awful," Spike replied with disgust. "You two aren't affected?"

"Applejack got us out." Diamond said with a small smile. "But only us."

"W-what about Apple Bloom, her sister?" Spike thought it would have been very suspicious if he asked about any of the Crusaders blatantly. With Applejack being brought up, he had an opening to try and get his questions out.

Diamond shook her head. "She's not with these foals. Not even her two friends." 

Spike didn't say anything to that. He just let his expression show grief, looking down in thought.

"So," Diamond started, her voice suddenly being harsher. "Why don't you pull down your hood so we can talk face to face?"

Spike let his eyes snap back up, noticing her intense look. "I can't." He replied.

"You said you weren't working for him, so that could only mean one thing." Silver said frankly.

"G-girls..." Spike took a step back in slight fear. The fillies didn't move, just stared.

"Who are you exactly?" Diamond Tiara asked with more volume than before.

"I-I'm Spi-"

Silver narrowed her eyes and cut off Spike's answer. "Not just your name. Give us specific details."

Another step back, and they just stared under the darkness.

They waited a few seconds. Once they knew Spike wasn't going to answer them, Silver brushed her mane with a hoof and Diamond Tiara shouted, "Now!"

Spike didn't have the chance to react as a light brown foal landed behind him. Time seemed to slow down as Spike twisted his head to look at the red-maned filly. "Babs Seed..."

The filly gave Spike no opportunity to speak as she held a sharp knife in her hoof and struck it forward.