//------------------------------// // Dusk // Story: Second Blood // by Lunarpony //------------------------------// All was quiet in Ponyville. The night was young and peaceful not a single pony awake. Nopony knew of the threat lingering in the air. There was no need to worry about something they didn't know about. So everypony was asleep. Pony being the key word here for there was one dragon who could not seem to sleep. Spike was tossing and turning. He eventually opens his eyes and walks into a bathroom to get a drink. As he turns the tap on his reflection doesn't move. Spike didn't catch wind of this until it spoke to him. "So how much longer?" it asks. "What?!" Spike exclaims dropping the small paper cup and looking at his reflection. "Y-you!" "You're best friend is never far." it replies. "Just who are you?" Spike asks "What are you?" "I am you." it replies. "I am that inner anger, your instinct, I guess you could call me your...dark side...for now." it replies. "Just ignore it Spike it's all in your head." Spike says turning. "Is it?" the voice asks again. Suddenly Spike feels weak as if he couldn't control his own body anymore. "You're going to belong to Chrysalis soon...all we have to do is drink the blood of a pony." it laughs. "n-no!" Spike says struggling to keep control "I won't do it! Twi-" he starts but his own mouth is covered. "Ah, ah, ah you call for Twilight now I'll just kill her." The voice chuckles. It removes the hands from Spike mouth and Spike no longer in control conks out. Meanwhile at Lunar's home the unicorn was fast asleep when a knock was heard at his door. He ignores it... a second knock...soon a third. Lunar groans and gets out of his bed. "I am coming." he calls walking down the stairs only to find Spike standing at his door. "Spike?" he asks looking at the young dragon. "What are you doing here so late?" the maroon unicorn asks. Spike said nothing but he grins at Lunar revealing a pair of fangs. Lunar looks shocked at this and casts a containment spell. "Let me out!" he hisses "Let me out you dumb pony!" "I don't know what you are but I am warning you...get out of Spike's body now." Lunar warns. "What are you talking about I am Spike!" he screams. "Really then what is the name of the magic that is extremely harmful to changelings?" Lunar asks. "Easy Solar Magic." Spike answers. "You're not Spike. The real Spike wouldn't know the answer to that question. Now what are you?" Lunar asks. "Well it isn't going to matter so I will tell you." Spike says "I am Spike, but much like Applejack or Fluttershy I am the Vampire personality." "I know what you were thinking." Lunar says glaring at Spike "But Chrysalis isn't going to have any of Euqestria as long as I stand." "Really? You'd betray her after she raised you as a filly?" Spike smiles. "Don't try that with me. She used me." Lunar says. "I promised myself that if I was to see that cursed monster again I'd kill her." "That's a little morbid isn't it?" Spike chuckles. "Oh that's funny. A blood sucking monster telling me about something being morbid." Lunar scoffs "Too bad I am going to get rid of you before that happens." "Lunar!" Twilight screams running over to him. "What in Equestria are you doing?!" "T-Twilight it isn't what you think! Ch-Chrysalis made Spike a vampire!" Lunar says swiftly. "Why should I believe you!?" Twilight shouts "I find you saying things like that to my oldest friend!" "Has your own love for him blinded you?! Look at him! He is a mess! He knows things the REAL Spike would never know!" Lunar shouts. "Oh yeah? What?" Twilight asks. "He told me what magic is dangerous to Changelings. How would the real Spike know that?" Lunar states. "From being with us during the whole ordeal with Applejack and Fluttershy." Twilight replies glaring at Lunar. "He wasn't with us the whole time!" Lunar exclaims "You ordered him to stay at the castle in case anything went wrong! He attacked you last time! In case you forgot even he became one of them until we cured the whole town with Zecora's help!" Lunar argues. "Look at him he has the fangs protruding from his mouth!" Twilight looks at Spike and the glimmer of the fangs manages to catch her eyes. "D-Dear Celestia..." Twilight says backing up afraid. "It's true..." Twilight runs off before Lunar could say anything. He then looks back at Spike. "Happy?" Lunar asks "Now look at what you've done to Twilight." "Me? You put me in here." Spike argues. "Now I will ask you one more time to give us back the real Spike." Lunar scowls. "What are you going to do about it if I don't?" Spike asks. "The other option will be very, very painful." Lunar says "You ever heard of the Mind Meld spell?" Lunar asks. "No." Spike laughs "What's it do give me a headache?" "You wish." Lunar smirks "Mind Meld is an old spell that is used to split the mind of one pony into different forms. A powerful spell that takes an alicorn to do but I know I can get Twilight to help out." Lunar says. "So you split me and the real Spike apart then what?" Spike asks. "I'll just attack him...you...Twilight, you'll all be dead either way." "Shut up." Lunar shouts. "You're too cocky for your own good." "Oh yeah? You're the one who locked me in this stupid magic field out of fear!" Spike shouts. "Fear?" Lunar scoffs. "If you weren't corrupting Spike's body I'd have just destroyed you." "Wow you are a really morbid unicorn." Spike says. "Just you wait." Lunar grunts walking out of the door. "I'll be back for you." "So you're just going to leave me like this?" Spike yells. "Yup." Lunar calls back before slamming the door to his shop and locking it. After sighing he walks to The Palace of Friendship and knocks on the door. No answer... He knocks again, then again before finally opening it on his own. He heard crying down the hall and carefully walked and made his way to Twilight's room. Inside she was on her bed crying. "Twi?" he asks softly and she looks at him. "Lunar what do you want now?" she asks through her sobs. "I-I have a way to fix spike but I need your help." Lunar replies in a soft tone. "W-will it hurt him?" Twilight asks. "I...don't know the answer to that. Have you heard of the Mind Meld spell?" Lunar asks. "I have heard of it. Do you think it might be able to help?" Twilight asks. "If I am right about what happened to Spike then there is no reason why it won't." Lunar reassures her. "Okay well let's say you're wrong." Twilight challenges. "Then the spell won't do anything if you cast it correctly." Lunar answers. "Why don't you just do it then?" Twilight asks. "Because I need an alicorn to do it..." Lunar sighs. "The magical energy that is required is far beyond my limits." "But if Star-Swirl was able to do it why can't any other Unicorn, especially you?" Twilight asks. "Heh I may be a powerful unicorn but I am nowhere close to the level he was on." Lunar chuckles slightly. "Besides I am not the Element of Magic or the Princess of Friendship. Those titles belong to you. I have no special titles I am just a regular unicorn who studies old things. Now we can go get this done right now or am I going to have to wake the others to get your spirits lifted?" "No, it's okay Lunar." Twilight smiles. "Thank you for reminding me of something." "What?" Lunar asks curiously. "Spike is my friend and so are you. I jumped to conclusions against you and I am sorry." Twilight apologizes. "Hey don't worry about it we all make mistakes Princess Twilight." Lunar says. "Like right there, I told you that you may call me Twilight." Twilight chuckles. "Right, sorry." Lunar smiles "So will you do it?" "Okay Lunar, we'll try it." Twilight nods smiling softly. "Anything for Spike." "Good to hear." Lunar says. Lunar extends a hoof and helps Twilight up from her bed before leading her back to his shop where Spike laid waiting. "Oh look the love birds are back." "Shut it." Lunar says. "We are friends don't go assuming otherwise." "Oh really?" Spike says. "You two are like two peas in a pod." "Enough." Twilight says firmly. "You know why I am here." "Oh yeah that stupid spell Lunar is sooo sure will work. Go on, I have been waiting to see you two fail." Spike laughs. "Keep your calm and focus Twilight. While you cast it I will be ready to handle that other thing that is inside Spike." Lunar says looking at Twilight before she looks back at Spike. Twilight's horn glows as she begins casting the spell. Soon after Lunar charges a Solar Missile spell and holds it. Spike starts to glow and scream in pain as the spell begins to take effect. Slowly over the course of about 10 minutes two bodies are split from one. The real Spike and a darker colored Spike, the monster that Chrysalis had placed inside of him. Finally the two became separate bodies. Spike was passed out and the Evil Spike hit the ground before staggering to get up. "Now!" Twilight says. Swiftly before the Evil Spike could do anything Twilight moves Spike out of the way as Lunar fires the Solar Missile at Evil Spike sending him back to the ground. Lunar then put a hoof down on it to pin Evil Spike. "Alright you split us apart now what will you do?" it asks. "Princess Twilight, with your permission I would like to banish this monster to Tartarus." Lunar says. "Allow me." Twilight answers walking up and using a spell to forge a small portal. "Farewell." was all she said before Lunar got off of Evil Spike allowing Twilight to send him inside. "Whew..." Lunar sighs in relief "That is a lot of action for one night...You should take Spike home now. Thank you Twilight." "No thank you Lunar, you're the one who figured it all out...again." Twilight answers. "Please I wouldn't have been able to much without your help. Besides this isn't over yet...we still have to worry about Queen Chrysalis." Lunar replies. "You're right..." Twilight sighs. "Thank you anyways and good night." she thanks the maroon unicorn and leaves his shop as he waves. Finally finished with such a sudden ordeal Lunar crawls back into bed and falls asleep for the last hour or two that remained in the night.