Spike the Dragon is a long time resident of Ponyville and in this town are his best friends, The Elements of Harmony. This group has been through everything together, good and bad and their friendship has grown into an unbreakable bond, or so Spike thought.

Through a unforeseen event, Spike is sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit and the bond of friendship he thought he had was nothing more than a illusion of his heart. With his world shattered and nothing left for him to live for, one being changes that and gives Spike a new desire to live and that is for power and revenge.

This story takes place after the events of Season 4, Twilight's battle with Tirek.

Imprisoned in the tunnels beneath Canterlot, she withers away in hunger and despair. In the castle above, curiosity leads him to a door that he is forbidden to open. When they finally meet, it is just the opportunity she has waited for. Mislead by a child's trusting innocence, Spike unknowingly stumbles into the clutches of Equestria's greatest foe. And once you embrace the darkness, the darkness never lets you go...

Cover image by ss2sonic

Spike comes across Chrysalis after the events of the Royal Wedding, and shows pity on her from seeing the state of her, and her hive. However, she must still work to garner his trust before he will show enough emotion towards her to sustain her. He visits her in secret, and as the years pass, she accrues his trust.

Although more than just trust begins to develop. . .

NOTE: Weird shipping is weird, but it will pose an interesting challenge. Who knows, maybe this will blossom into more than a simple one-shot/short story.

Challenge here: http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/105794/new-years-shipping-challenge

Teen for some gore, and likely use of language - subject to change in the future.

This story is a sequel to The Darkness of Love

Spike saved the Elements of Harmony, but a past mistake had caught up to him. He died a week later, leaving Twilight heartbroken, holding a crystal that contained half his soul from before he succumbed to dark magic.

Now, some months later, Twilight has spent her time searching for the key to bringing Spike back. With everything in place, and Cadence assisting her with Spike's resurrection, will everything go as planned, or will something falter and leave Spike half of or twice what he used to be?

Opening theme for this story is: Awoken - Sound of the Aviators

Rated 'Mature' for Violence and Sex. To see sex chapters, click on the link here.

This story has been riffed in Doctor and Ditzy's science theatre by Rixizu. You can find it on his user page here

Spike has been missing for three years. Why he disappeared is a mystery to everypony. What caused him to leave in the first place, and why is he suddenly back now? He's acting cold towards his old friends and won't reveal why. He's lost his love for Rarity and is treating everypony he comes across the same way Gilda did.

Opening theme for this story is: Constellations - Sound of the Aviators

Rated: Teen for language and potential sexual outcomes.

Warning: Self-harm is described in this story. If you are prone to self-harm or know someone who is and feel uncomfortable reading about the subject, then I don't recommend reading the story.

Spike has been rejected by Rarity after helping her for a very important client and a fashion show. He disappears shortly afterwards, leaving Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, and the rest of the gang saddened by his absence.

It has been three years since that incident, and the girls have gotten past the sadness, but still get together to remember the purple dragon every year. On this day, a new pony comes to Ponyville, and although he knows nothing of what his life was like, helps the group have more fun and fills part of the hole left in their hearts from Spike.

Idea for the fashion show goes to LordPlagus777's story Heart of Scales.

After leaving on a second pilgrimage to find himself, Spike returns to Ponyville, physically larger and sporting an impressive array of skills and powers.

His plans for a calm life in Ponyville, however, takes a different path as he soon finds himself the desire of several ponies interests, friends old and new included.

Change breeds benefits, as the saying goes. Spike has yet to hear it ring true.