After Spike stays up all night fixing the fence, Twilight realises that he's been working too hard lately, so gives him the day off. Spike is at a bit of a loose end with what to do with his free day and Twilight faces the challenge of fending for herself, which is of course, a recipie for disaster.

Spike doesn't know how long he's been running - he just knows he can't stop. He doesn't know why the ponies keep hunting him - he just knows they won't stop. From the sky, from the earth, from the water and all the between places, the ponies emerge with their tricks and their ambushes and their unrelenting hunger. He's just the appetizer in a banquet that never ends.

Thanks to a certain crazy person who would like to remain anonymous, this story now has a cover that actually looks good! You can find the commissioned artist, SapphireGamgee, over at Deviantart. Just, uh, be careful when you're browsing the 'More from Deviantart' section. Things get really weird, really fast. I blame myself for this.

Credit for Artcover: http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Marik_Azemus

When the burdern of rejection becomes too much to bear, Spike casts his life in Ponyville aside for a clean slate. A re-imagination of his own character at the expense of the feelings of his friends. Days, weeks, months, and even years go by as Rarity lives in the regret of her mistake when she realizes the worst thing possible— she loves him, yet she pushed him away because of her shallowness. What happens when the wayward dragon returns home?

Ever been bested by a sickeningly sweet pony, specifically one who wields the Elements of Harmony? Are you just tired of love and hope and kindness filling your world? I know I am. Come to the next meeting of Villains Anonymous, where no unjust deed of cruelty goes unrewarded. Discuss your beliefs of disaster and anarchy with your like-minded colleagues, speak of plans for your next big scheme for world domination, or just be a stuck-up jerk. Here at Villains Anonymous, all evil is welcome.

-Discord, The Spirit of Disharmony

P.S., Chrysalis, it's your turn to bring snacks.

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Updated 11/11/12

Seeing as how some of you want me to write more, I'll get on it soon.

Rarity has a rather unladylike moment of panic when she thinks Spike has moved away without telling her. Twilight is amused.

Short oneshot that just sort of fell out of my head this evening.

Spike is Twilight's best helper, and best friend. He would do anything to help out with whatever Twilight, or any of his friends need. One day though, his plans are changed when he accidentally bumps into Twilight's shrinking powder jar, and spills it on himself, shrinking him down to a 1/2 an inch tall. He needs to get somepony to notice him fast, for Pinkie Pie wants to through a party at the library.

While out for a walk, Derpy Hooves comes across a ruined building. While there, she finds a new game. A strange voice tells her to play it, and so Derpy decides to do just that. She finds a willing play partner in Spike, but the two of them find that the game appears to be broken...

AUTHOR'S NOTES

This story is a collaborative effort between Vetnern and myself. The idea was that Vetnern would write the prologue, and then I would write the ending. This is the result of our combined endeavours.

Editing and proof-reading done by me. Derpy Hooves vector by invaderliz-thecat on DeviantArt.

Things don't always go as planned. In the future, you can look back and see what went wrong. Retrospect, that's what it's called. Now, Spike sees the horror that has befallen Equestria, and writes to anypony willing to take up friendship again.

After her face and body are permanently scarred, Rarity seals herself off in her room with the lights off and drapes drawn, too disgusted by her own appearance to be seen. The only comfort she has comes in the form of daily visits from Spike, though she keeps the room dark to hide her deformities from the baby dragon. Can he convince her that she has nothing to fear; that her beauty is not limited to what she looks like?

My entry for the Feature Box Crusaders' Contest due on March 20th.

Thanks to BubblepipeWrangler for the initial story idea, and the help writing and editing it.

Additional thanks to: Twi-Guy and Featherprop for their help with the editing.

While re-shelving books at the library, Twilight discovers a journal she gave to Spike years ago contains stories about the great dragon hero Captain Invincible, who fights for Truth, Justice, and the Equestrian Way, defending the city of Ponytopolis from the diabolical Dr. Spectra and other assorted dangers.

There's just two problems: Spike clearly wanted the stories to be kept private, and Twilight just can't stop reading them.

Featured on Equestria Daily on 3/4/2013