//------------------------------//
// Ch. 26 Hurt 
// Story: Strange Yet Wonderful 
// by Bionic Slime 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 26: Hurt



Despite the fact that Chimera Khan and his monstrous minions had fled Ponyville, there was no time for celebration or relief. Ponyville had been ravaged without warning. Buildings were on fire, ponies were terrified and not a soul knew why this had happened. The Hearts and Hooves day’s festivities were understandably postponed until further notice. So much had happened this day, and still so many questions remained.

Who was Chimera Khan? Where did he come from? Why did he hate Princess Celestia so much? And most importantly: what was he planning to do next?

After Princess Celestia had been attacked by Khan, she returned to Canterlot with her guards for treatment. Twilight, her 5 friends and Spike were requested by the princess to board the next train to Canterlot for debriefing. Rainbow and Applejack brought Arrowhead and Hopeful Romantic along with them. They had never mingled with royalty and their involvement in this matter seemed outside of their expertise, but still, the girl’s insistence eventually won them over; though Arrowhead still refused to sit next to or speak to his former girlfriend. The 8 ponies and now-taller dragon made their way onto the next train, after first receiving medical attention for their wounds of course.

The ponies sat miserably in their broken, defeated silence as the train rumbled onto its destination. Nearly all of them had bandages or sported some kind of visible damage. Twilight had multiple bandages all over her body, Rainbow’s hooves were still raw from the burn marks, Applejack had bite marks on her backside, Hopeful had a black eye and Arrowhead had a chunk torn out of his left ear.

“Oh man, that looks really painful. Are you sure you’re okay?” Rainbow quivered anxiously. She wanted nothing more than to comfort Arrowhead, to be at his side and ease the pain her fowl words had caused; as well as his wounds. Rainbow reached to examine the ear but Arrowhead coldly batted her hoof away.

“Just don’t,” he replied gruffly.

The speedy mare felt her heart splitting apart. She remembered when he craved her touch; when she craved his. Rainbow could recall when they were lost in each other’s bodies and felt nothing but pure, unwavering love for one another. Now their love was as torn as Arrowhead’s ear. He was so close to her, and yet still so far away. She reluctantly agreed to keep her distance.

Arrowhead wasn’t the only male brooding in isolation however.

Spike had elected to stay alone in a separate train car; away from everyone else. After he rushed Rarity to the hospital, he wrapped himself in a dark cloak and refused to show anyone what he had become. Even after reuniting with Twilight and the others, he would not remove his cloak or speak much with his pony friends.

Rarity stared longingly at the door to the next car. Her eyes drooping with overwhelming sadness, her heart lumped firmly in her throat. She knew he was in there, sitting all alone and worst of all…she knew it was her fault. Her reaction to his new form must have made him think she saw him as a monster. Seeing it was certainly a shocking surprise, no doubt about it. And he was already sensitive about his appearance…now this.

Twilight was devastated. Her adoptive son was but a few feet away from her, and he wanted nothing to do with her or anyone else. He was experiencing a radical change and it’s causing him unbearable pain. She wanted nothing more than to comfort him, be there for him and guide him through this uncertain path. He did not.

The morose silence made the ride feel hours longer than it actually was. They eventually reached Canterlot and made their way to the castle to see Celestia; Spike intentionally hanging far off in the back. They entered the throne room together. Inside, Princess Celestia was fussing over being examined by a male, brown unicorn doctor. To her left stood Princess Luna, and next to her was a punk pony with colorful hair and a black leather jacket.

“You sure you want me to get ghosting? I know this royal jelly ain’t my kind of jam, but I’d hate to abandon ship if you still need to me to steady your boat Luna-love,” Rebel said comfortingly.

“Even your briefest of visits brings me great warmth and comfort, my charming beloved,” Luna crooned. She leaned and nuzzled Rebel’s cheek tenderly. Her horn clinked harmoniously with Rebel’s piercings; a sound she loved recreating each time they touched. “Dealing with troublesome matters in Equestria is an unavoidable task for a princess. Do not worry though, I shall find you as soon as I have aided my sister with this pressing matter,” she said assuredly.

Rebel Streak felt the stress melt right off his body upon hearing those words. Her voice and lips produced such a soothing melody, he found himself powerless against it every time. The punkish rogue shared a tender kiss with his beloved princess before departing the throne room. Twilight and the others curiously looked his way as he walked past them. Pinkie Pie winked at the punkish colt. She whispered “Nice” to him and hoof bumped him before he left the room.

“I don’t know fair maiden. I’m just a regular old Pegasus who likes to write poetry, I don’t have any real experience with royal issues or princesses or anything. I don’t know what good I can do here,” Hopeful said nervously.

Applejack gently wrapped her hoof around his. She pulled him close and kissed his lips; closing her eyes and deepening it. Their lips eventually separated. She rubbed her nose against his and giggled. “Don’t go doubtin’ yer fine self now, Sugar. Just cause Ahm stronger than ya or mah friends got magic don’t mean you can’t help out. Ain’t no pony Ah’d rather have by mah side then you lover boy,” she said smoothly; winking affectionately.

Hopeful blushed glowingly. He giggled in reply; feeling much better.

“Princess Twilight, friends, thank goodness your all right. I was worried you could have been seriously harmed,” Celestia said graciously. She finished her discussion with the doctor and kindly requested he leave the room. The sun princess approached the ponies and lone dragon, they bowed respectfully before her. Celestia did the same for Twilight. “I only wish this visit could be under better circumstances. We have a critical situation on our hooves and I must ask all of you for your help in dealing with this new threat,” she stated.

Celestia motioned to one of the guards for something. The unicorn guard nodded and opened a door directly behind him. Out of the doorway stepped Moonstruck.

His eyes were sheepishly downcast. Twilight instinctively looked towards her green haired friend, but looked away just as quickly. The mare’s feelings towards him were still gravely mixed since their last interaction. Those damaging words still haunted her thoughts.

“Oh that’s easy, it’s because he was trying to forget the fact he remembered killing his parents when he was little.”

“Twilight, Twilight, hey, is everything all right?” a voice asked her; sounding hazy at first but gradually getting clearer.

It was Moonstruck. The sarcastic colt was standing right in front of Twilight; looking at her with deep concern swelling in his silvery eyes. She shook herself out of her daydream like daze. He looked at her multiple cuts and bandages with grave concern, it churned his stomach seeing her in such pain like that. The princess assured him she was fine and he needn’t worry about her.

“Look, I know things have been um weird with us since our last visit,” he said wearily.

Moonstruck was completely unaware of what he had said or done to Twilight during their last encounter. The cider had blocked out any recollection of what happened. He looked somberly at the princess. Moonstruck knew whatever it was he said or did; it had only made things worse between him and his beloved princess.

“I just-just wanted you to know that I’ve been really worried about you and-and this whole masked bad guy business; it’s freaking me out. I just don’t want-”

“Later Moonstruck…we can um talk…later, okay?” Twilight interjected.

She backed away hesitantly from the purple colt. The princess hated doing that to him, she hated seeing the hurt in his eyes even more; but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t know who she was looking at anymore. Her mind raced with dreadful thoughts and scenarios. Moonstruck saw he was visibly upsetting her and backed off, though it pained him greatly to do so.

“R-r-r-right, yeah um later, we-we can totally talk um later and, uh yeah,” he babbled hopelessly.

The ponies collectively turned to the princess. Celestia stumbled slightly as she approached them, Luna supported her sister with her body. Spike’s cloaked appearance and distance were most puzzling to the sun princess. She called to him; inviting him to come closer. The other ponies joined in welcoming their scaly friend forward. He insisted he was fine where he was and remained secluded in his spot and within his cloak. The drake clung to it like a shield; as if his life would end if he lowered it from his body.

“I think it would be best if we just give him some time and space. Spike’s been through a lot and he’s not going to get better if we keep pestering him to come out,” Twilight suggested.

“Is he injured or scarred? Did the attacker do something to make him like this?” Luna asked inquisitively.

“Spike will join us when he’s ready,” Rarity added; speaking with a hint of finality in her voice. Though she hated seeing her scaly admirer locked up in his own darkness, she knew Twilight was right. She had to be patient, they all did.

“Understood,” Celestia said affirmatively, “I am grateful to see you all here; the same goes for you as well friends of my friends.” Hopeful and Arrowhead nodded respectfully to the sun mare. “Equestria is in great danger. As you know, Ponyville was attacked by a dangerous new enemy; who controls an army of monsters and wields tremendous mystical powers. I believe this foe is the culprit we have been searching for, the one who has been stealing mystical artifacts from various nations,” she boldly stated.

“Oh great, NOW whose trying to kill us?” Rainbow groaned sarcastically.

“I met him. He…he…he nearly killed me,” Rarity whispered frightfully. Her heartbeat slowed and her hooves felt sweaty just by thinking about her encounter with the masked pony. Pinkie Pie comforted the fashionista as best she could. “This is no mere pony girls. He’s a demon, a cruel, sadistic, merciless tyrant who would have surely slain me had it not been for Spike’s gallant rescue,” she said timidly.

The fashionista smiled sweetly to Spike. Her smile was sad and she knew it looked that way, but she offered it to him none the less. Spike’s claws longingly clutched the cloak over his face. Despite his phantom like attire, Rarity spotted the faintest signs of blushing under that concealed face.

“I met him as well; we dueled before he decided to go after Rarity. He called himself Chimera Khan. He said that I was the reason he came to Ponyville, because I was your student and you were my teacher,” Twilight said ponderingly. She rubbed her chin with her hoof, thinking about everything he said. “He was so obsessed with you; it was like he couldn’t go 5 minutes without mentioning how much he hates you.”

Celestia appeared morbidly puzzled. None of this was making sense, nothing she knew about this pony was adding up in her mind. She still had trouble processing the fact that he was alive after all these years. The royal mare couldn’t even begin to imagine what had happened him, or what could have driven him to become this…thing.

“There was something else…he had Starswirl’s indestructible plate. I saw it in action, it’s the real thing,” Twilight said alarmingly.

Moonstruck looked like a ghost had floated right through him. He remembered that plate, he remembered it well; it was the reason he had been locked up in Tartarus.

“I want everyone to come with me at once,” Celestia commanded. The sun princess wasted no time exiting the throne room; not even bothering to see if the others were following her. Her golden hooves stomped impatiently. She wished to get to the bottom of this matter at once.

Twilight and her friends followed the princess; Spike continued to follow distantly from behind. Celestia stood before the royal vault. She unlocked it, swung the door open and headed right for the case containing the plate. Her magic lifted the case up and set it aside. Twilight and Moonstruck watched intensely as Celestia examined the mystical artifact.

Without warning, the sun princess tossed the plate high above her head.

ZAP!

CRASH!

Celestia’s horn beam blasted the plate into charred chunks. The ponies collectively gasped as the plate’s remains dropped to the ground, they clanked like shards of porcelain.

“A fake…all this time…we’ve been protecting a worthless forgery,” Celestia growled bitterly. She felt like such a fool; being tricked for so long without ever having a clue.

Moonstruck poked the broken bits with his hoof. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Then this-this means that…I was sent to prison over some hoof crafted copy?!? I never had the real one to begin with?” he deduced; vengefulness darkening his tone and conviction.

“Your imposter must have stolen the original, forged a duplicate and then planted the fake by your bedside. The thief has had the plate all this time,” Rarity deduced. “But if the imposter has the original plate, then that means the identity of the one who impersonated you is-”

“Chimera Khan,” Moonstruck interrupted; his voice dripping with scathing hatred. The stallion finally had name and a face to put to the one who ruined his life. He didn’t care if Khan had every living creature in Equestria under his control; he swore he would find him and kill him.

Seeing Moonstruck like this only caused Twilight to grow even more concerned for him. She feared what he might do in order to get his revenge, even worse; she feared what might happen to him if he takes on Khan.

“I’ll have to stop him before Moonstruck gets anywhere near him,” she thought to herself.

“Who is this pony Tia?” Luna asked.

“It sure sounds like he knows who you are,” Arrowhead gruffly remarked.

“I’m sorry to say I do know the stallion that attacked you, I know him all too well. He recognized me when we crossed paths,” she sorrowfully replied.

“Who is he princess? How does he know you? And more importantly, why does he hate you so much?” Twilight impatiently asked.

Celestia sighed heavily. She materialized a cup of water before her lips. She drank the cup, teleported the cup away and took a deep; calming breath. Twilight had never seen her mentor like this before. Celestia looked as if she was opening a door she never wanted opened; shining a light on a skeleton she wished had remained buried.

“Once, he was my royal advisor…and one of my closest friends. I wish I could tell you his name, his real name. I don’t remember what it was. He never went by such a tyrannical sounding title like Khan before. He attacked me with some sort of mind spell and attempted to erase our encounter from my memory. Fortunately, my guards stopped him but the memory of his name was lost during the mind wipe. Now his true name is gone, and from what I saw today, so may his soul be as well,” she grimly conceded.

“It’s okay princess. Just tell us anything you can remember, anything at all,” Fluttershy said comfortingly. Celestia smiled in return.

“Long ago, before Nightmare Moon had been banished to the moon, Khan was my most loyal and trusted advisor. He was the top of his class; brilliantly talented at anything he put his mind to. Khan was exceptionally gifted in magic and even greater in his wisdom and knowledge. He dedicated himself to learning every possible thing he could about magic. His thirst for knowledge aided me in many difficult times, even assisting in bartering peace with warring pony tribes and hostile enemies. But as I said before, Khan wasn’t just my advisor; he was my friend. He believed in me and I put my trust in him. He admired what I stood for and had the utmost reverence for the knowledge and experience I had accumulated.

“However, after my sister had been sentenced to her lunar prison, everything changed. He became paranoid and suspicious. He felt the loss of the second princess would inevitably invite challenge to our doorstep; specifically: dragons. Khan had always loathed the dragon race. He believed they were too dangerous to co-exist peacefully with. I remember countless times he warned me of their power, of their numbers and what they could do to ponies if they ever decided to rise up and decimate Equestria. According to Khan, it wasn’t a matter of if it was a matter of when. He truly believed they were the greatest threat to our people and had to be dealt with.

“Of course, I disagreed with his views. Dragons may be dangerous and different than us, but they are still living creatures and I would never engage in a war unless I had absolutely no other choice. Khan claimed I had gone soft. He said losing Luna had shaken my resolve and made me blind to the true severity of the threat the dragons presented. There was this specific pair of dragons we came across one day. They had been attempting to move into the caves behind Canterlot castle, they claimed we had no right to deny them these caves, that this was their land too and we should back off. Khan didn’t take this very well. He wanted to use our combined magic to drive them off, but I refused. Thankfully, I was eventually able to convince them to leave without using violence.

“Khan said this was the last straw. He knew I would never consent to an all-out war against the dragons; though that didn’t stop him from bringing it up again. After I made it clear for the hundredth time that I wouldn’t approve such an action, he proposed an alternative solution. He wanted me to grant him access to use Starswirl’s indestructible chest plate as the basis for an experimental magical armored suit that could control all the dragons. He figured if he couldn’t kill them to stop them from advancing on our territory, controlling them would be the next best thing. Theoretically, he claimed he had sufficient resources and magic to pull this off.

“I denied his request and forbade him from using the chest plate or any other means of manipulating or harming the dragons, in any way, shape or form. He called me a spineless coward and swore that I would one day regret sparing the dragons.”

Rainbow Dash flew up with a sudden jolt. She waved her hooves; frantically seeking the princesses’ attention. Something about Celestia’s story seemed to deeply unsettle her. “Whoa, whoa, hold everything. There’s something that’s bugging me. If this Khan guy was your advisor when Nightmare Moon was banished, then that would mean-”

“Yes Rainbow Dash, Chimera Khan is over a thousand years old,” Celestia clarified.

The ponies collectively gasped at this revelation. Twilight and Moonstruck were especially baffled by this shocking discovery.

“But-but how is that possible? I thought only Alicorns could live that long,” Moonstruck asked hesitantly.

“After the…incident, a full investigation was launched into Khan’s work. Apparently he had long been researching ways of extending his life; he even looked into forbidden magic as well. Potions, spells, amulets, mystical elixirs; he tried everything. Khan was always jealous of our long lasting lives. He envied us because we could keep on learning more and more information, whereas Khan’s mind would inevitably succumb to age and illness. It’s possible one of his experiments or potions was successful and he didn’t realize it, or perhaps something he did or something that happened to him during all these years granted him long lasting life. The truth is I don’t know. I thought Khan died years ago, that’s why I was so surprised to see him. Coupled with the fact that it has been over a thousand years, there’s no way he should be alive today…but somehow he is,” Celestia said drearily. Her face looked withered and forlorn, as if telling this story was draining the warmth from her heart.

“Boy did he miss out on a lot of birthday parties,” Pinkie gasped; sounding alarmed.

Everyone rolled their eyes and just shrugged it off. Pinkie Pie will always be Pinkie Pie. Twilight had a melancholy look on her face. There was a question her curious mind was longing to ask, but deep down, she feared the answer would be most unsettling. The purple mare swallowed her fear and forced her lips to speak the words she dreaded.

“When Khan…um…died, did it happen the same time as this ‘incident’ you spoke of?” Twilight asked. Celestia slowly nodded. “I have to know princess, what was the incident that happened with Khan?”

“To answer that, you have to understand; as angry as my friend was, I never believed he was capable of disobeying me and stealing the chest plate. He had been planning to craft the mind control armor without my knowledge for some time. I later found out he went to the Everfree forest and tested the armor on the monsters in the forest, apparently; it was a success. Khan went back to the cave to find the two dragons that we drove off before. He needed to test the armor to see if it would actually work on dragons. He always said they wouldn’t listen and they’d be back, turns out he was right. Based on what the guards and I found at the scene, Khan’s armor must have failed and the dragons attacked him.

“He killed the two dragons but not before one of them set fire to him, which caused him to fall off the mountain. We searched every inch of that mountain, every area within miles of the cave; but we never found a body. I knew that if word got out that a royal advisor pony had slain two dragons, the Dragon Lord might take this as a personal attack on his kind and a war between the two races would be inescapable. Believing my friend to be dead, I held a funeral service in his honor, erased all evidence the battle ever took place and buried the dragons within the cave. I believe Khan seeks vengeance because I did not retaliate against the dragons for his death. He thinks I erased everything from that day…but…there was one thing that still remained.”

FLASHBACK

The bitter cold engulfed the mountain trail. Celestia and her guards blindly walked through the relentless blizzard, feeling it bombard them punishingly. Their breath was visible from their trembling lips. The frigid wind became more unbearable the higher they went up.

“There! I see something my princess, over there!” a guard called out.

Celestia squinted as she searched within the blinding white haze of snow and ice. Two large purple blobs laid lifelessly on the ground, their limbs and tail rapidly disappearing under the snowstorm’s clouds of white. She approached the closest dragon corpse. Her golden plated hoof was suddenly grabbed by the dragon’s claw. She gasped in shock.

The male dragon’s face weakly looked up at her. His features were riddled with dripping clumps of snow and icicles. His eyes strained to stay open, but he could feel his final specks of life quickly fading. The creature tried to get his scaly lips to work; forcing himself to say the most important final 3 words of his dwindling life.

“P-p-p-p-please…the…b-b-baby…”

The dragon dropped to the ground; dead. His claw slid lifelessly off Celestia’s hoof.

Celestia stared achingly at the fallen creature, her tears mixing with the snowflakes striking her cheeks. She cautiously approached the second fallen dragon. This one was female. She had something curled up against her chest, both of her arms were around it; protecting it. The princess used her magic to pry the frozen limbs off whatever it was that was being shielded.

A small, purple egg with dark purple spots rolled onto the ground. It was a dragon’s egg.

END FLASHBACK

The room had been stunned into a grave like silence. The pony’s eyes widened. Some hung their mouths open, while others clutched their hooves over their lips. Unsurprisingly, the news hit Twilight like an avalanche. She felt like she was standing beside herself. Moonstruck attempted to comfort her but found it difficult not to be swept up in the shock as well. Every pony turned towards Spike’s direction. The young drake had finally stepped out of his dark corner.

“My mom and dad…they’re…they’re dead?” Spike whispered brokenly.

He walked towards Celestia as if in a trance, his cloak dragging along his shuffling feet. Spike was too stunned to conceal his gangly new form. He didn’t even notice all of his friends and adoptive mother staring at his transformed state. The young drake was in a daze. He had become a shadow of a ghost; empty and lost.

“You knew…you knew all this time and-and…you never told me? All this time, all the questions I had. Who my parents were, where I came from, how my egg came into your possession…you’ve known all along,” he said faintly. Celestia closed her eyes; unable to look Spike in the eye. She had been dreading this day for many years now. Spike approached the princess. His proximity and tone made the guards exceedingly nervous. “How could you…HOW COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?!?” Spike snapped.

The guards cut Celestia off from Spike’s reach. They aimed their spears at his snarling face.

“Lower your weapons this instant! Spike has every right to be mad, let him speak his mind,” Celestia commanded threateningly. The guards reluctantly complied.

“Every…right? What do YOU know about rights? Who gave you the right to keep this secret from me? You think because your the princess you can just toy around with someone’s life like that, who the hell do you think you are?!?”

“That’s enough, Spike. I know this is devastating for you to hear but you can’t talk to the-”

“Stay out of this Twilight! All this time, I’ve been searching for answers; looking for some kind of clue as to who my parents are, where I came from. Now I find out she’s known all this time, that I would never find them because her friend murdered them in cold blood!”

Spike glared violently back towards Celestia. She remained silent and highly attentive; facing Spike’s justifiable rage head on.

“Do you have any idea how many nights I cried myself to sleep, how I would wake up in the middle of the night; sobbing into my pillow because I felt so alone, so lost?  DO YOU EVEN CARE?!?”

“Spike, I’m not going to tell you again!”

He ignored his step mom’s orders and angrily pressed on. Tears streamed down his face, he pointed firmly at the heartbroken sun princess.

“I looked up to you because Twilight looked up to you, I thought you cared about me the way we cared about you. But you sat and watched me grow up; knowing I would never meet my mommy and daddy…and you said nothing. You took my family away from me…in life and in death…I HATE YOU!!!”

Twilight spun Spike around and slapped him across the face. The other 5 mares and 3 colts gasped at Twilight’s sudden strike.

“You will never talk to the princess like that again. I know you’re in pain, I know this hurts more than I will ever understand…but it hurts me just as much to see you like this,” Twilight said pleadingly. She felt like she failed him as a mother and as a friend; unable to find him the answers he’s wanted for so long.

“Ugh…I’m out of here,” he said dismissively. Spike coldly pushed past Twilight and stormed towards the exit. Applejack and Fluttershy blocked the dragon from leaving. “Get out of my way…now,” he sneered venomously.

“Ya’ll got some nerve treatin’ Twi and the princess like that. Believe me, Ah understand plenty were yer comin’ from but that’s no excuse to act like a rotten apple. You need to calm yer biscuits down and mighty quick,” Applejack snorted.

“Um I think what Applejack is trying to say is that we-were your friends and we just want to help. It’s okay to be mad, every pony gets mad; we just got to be careful what we say and do when were angry,” the yellow Pegasus said cautiously.

“Please darling, just listen to us, we’ve all been through so much together. We just want to help you through this calmly,” Rarity added; pleadingly.

Spike’s new height gave him much better perspective than before. He looked around and saw everyone had circled around him; even Princess Luna, Moonstruck, Hopeful and Arrowhead. The cornered dragon clutched his claws tightly but then quickly relaxed them. He looked at everyone briskly, a frigid smirk formed on his lips.

“Friends? Don’t make me laugh…you don’t care about me…none of you do. I’m just an afterthought, a sad freak of a charity case you all have to put up with. None of you want me here,” he said heatedly.

Twilight was on the verge of tears. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, it was breaking her heart.

“B-b-b-but Spike, how can you say such-such hurtful things like that? I’ve cared for you, raised you. I loved you as if you were my own child. How can you just forget all of the good memories and times we’ve had?” Twilight sobbed.

“Good memories? You mean like the memory I have of you celebrating your birthday in Canterlot with everyone, BUT ME?!? If you cared for me as much as you say you do, then why did you forget me; like-like I was some…piece of luggage?” he said hatefully.

Twilight felt like she wanted to die. She clutched her mouth; trying to stop the overwhelming sadness that was suffocating her. Tears poured down her cheeks flowingly. Spike wasn’t finished however. He turned towards his other “friends” and pointed an accusing claw at each one.

“What about you, Rainbow Dash? Everyone gets to go see you perform at the young flyers competition in Cloudsdale, but you don’t bother to invite me; on top of how many other events that I was never invited to? Or Applejack: you gave me such a hard time for being in love with Rarity. Always downplaying my feelings for her, acting like it’s wrong for me to love her; where was your friendly support there, huh? What about Princess Luna? You visit every one of my friend’s dreams and seek their help to fight the Tantabus, but you don’t bother with me at all?

“Or you Pinkie Pie: you act like you’re everyone’s friend, and yet, you didn’t bother to ask me to meet Maud and share rock candy with everyone? I thought you cared about your friends Pinkie! And then there’s Rarity. You used me to do all your dirty work; like carry your stuff around or take out your trash. I thought you felt differently about me after what happened, but then I saw the look on your face when I changed. You looked at me like I was no different than one of Khan’s monsters…and I even rushed you to the hospital to make sure you were safe,” he grimaced.

One by one, the ponies realized just how horrible they have been treating Spike. Not inviting him to attend the National dessert competition, not going to meet A.K. Yearling/Daring Do, and even ignoring his requests to join their missions across Equestria; to places like Griffinstone and Manehattan again. He was always being left behind…always being forgotten.

“You’re not my friends…you’re not my family…NONE OF YOU LOVE ME!” the sobbing dragon declared. Spike looked to the ceiling and unleashed a skull splitting draconian roar. Everyone winced; holding their ears in a feeble attempt to block out the monstrous scream. He rushed out of the room, leaving a trail of tears behind. The doors slammed shut behind him.

Celestia felt like she was drowning in an ocean of blackness. Her posture was hunched, her eyes brimming with tears. The mare’s voice was choking on the heart wrenching pain that was suffocating her heart.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sister…Tia…you did the right thing not telling him until now,” Luna said comfortingly. “If you had told him any sooner, it surely would have destroyed him.”

“I…I need to be alone…please. I know we still have much to discuss but,” Celestia said; muffled through her broken sobs.

“It can wait a little longer, sister dear. We all understand,” she said assuredly.

Luna looked to the others and requested they all take a break and come back to the throne room in a few hours. Honoring her sister’s wishes, the princess of the night left as well and decided to check up on Rebel Streak. Every pony left the room with a gloomy, crushed look on their dreary faces. Spike’s words and tragic past had left them feeling devastated.

“If none of you mind, I’d like to go check on Spike. He needs some pony at his side right now. He should not be alone,” Rarity said shakily. The other ponies looked curiously to the fashionista. Rarity turned to chase after him but was stopped when she felt a purple hoof clutching her curly tail. It was Twilight.

“Please Rarity; let me talk to him first. I know you want to go to him, I know in your heart you’ve realized how much he means to you. But the thing is…he’s still my son. I swear, you can talk to him right after I’m done just please…let me be there for him now,” Twilight pleaded.

Despite being overwhelmed with the urge to rush to see Spike and hold him tightly in her arms, she understood Twilight’s position without question. Spike’s heart would always belong to two mares. She smiled weakly and nodded to her royal friend. Twilight thanked her and teleported off to find Spike.

Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Moonstruck, Arrowhead and Hopeful stared miserably at the ground. Their minds still reeling from the unforgivable amount of times Spike had been left behind or forgotten. Pinkie’s mane deflated and drooped pitifully.

“I always thought I was every pony’s best friend, but that’s not true. No best friend or super-duper party pony would ever let a friend be so unhappy all the time…I’m the worst,” Pinkie moped sorrowfully.

“Don’t blame yourself Pinkie, we all let this happen,” Fluttershy added.

“When Spike told me how often we had ignored him, I didn’t believe it at first. But the more I thought about it the more I realized how distant we have all been to him. It’s just the absolute worst feeling, isn’t it?” Rarity whimpered.

“Ya’ll got that right. Ah feel slimier than a snake skinny dippin’ in the swamplands. Ah treated him so coldly because of mah own ignorance. Some kinda family we turned out to be,” Applejack grumbled. Hopeful comforted her as best he could.

“We just kept getting wrapped up in our stuff that…he got lost in the cracks. I thought we knew everything there was to know about friendship. Guess not. I mean, how could we just keep forgetting the poor little guy like that? Well, poor big guy now,” Rainbow said correctively.

“It happens. Sooner or later, somebody always forgets us,” Arrowhead said dismissively.

Rainbow looked at the grey colt with a perplexed stare. She assumed that was a jab at her due to their breakup, but something inside her gut told her that there was more to his words than he let on.

Inside her royal bedroom, Celestia was drowning her sorrows into her pillows. She cried for what felt like a thousand years; sobbing miserably until her voice grew hoarse and exhausted.

“I’m a failure as a princess…a complete and utter failure…how could I call myself a fair ruler when I’ve caused so much pain and misery to one I care about? I’ll never forget that look in his eyes, that hateful, heartbroken look…Oh what have I done?” she said; gasping between her constant weeping.

A loud knock banged onto her door.

“I believe my instructions were clear: I do not wish to be disturbed,” she said flatly.

“Oh there’s nothing wrong with being disturbed, after all, it’s done wonders for me!”

That voice, it was unmistakable. Discord had snuck into her private quarters, again. The doorknob morphed into a single yellow eye with a beady red iris. The eye split in two and the rest of the door’s structure morphed into the trickster’s mish mashed body. He snapped his claws and quickly materialized a new door.

Celestia dismounted from her bed and approached the annoying chaos spirit.

“I don’t suppose telling you I’m upset, I want to be alone and you have no right to be in here will make any bit of difference, will it?” the princess asked dryly.

Discord materialized a script out of thin air. It read “Chapter 21: Beautiful Strangers.” He flipped through the pages and stopped about half way in. Discord shoved it into her face, pressing on her muzzle. “You recall how well that worked for you the last time you tried it,” he teased. The script vanished in a small puff of smoke.

“Ask a stupid question…” Celestia groaned meekly. Her heart and mind were too fractured by guilt to deal with Discord’s shenanigans today. She just wanted to crawl into a tub of ice cream and die.

“Oh come on Sun butt, I thought we were past all this. You know now my jesting is only for harmless mischief. I care too much about you to kick you when you’re down anymore,” Discord said earnestly.

Resigning to the unfortunate fact that nothing she said or did would make Discord leave, Celestia trudged back to her bed and shoved her face into her tear soaked pillow. She called out to him; muffled and miserable.

“Maybe you should stop caring then, just give up on me and any chance of loving me. Clearly such a pitiful princess doesn’t deserve love. Not when she hurts those she cares about so cruelly,” Celestia sniffled.

“Hey now! As the master of chaos, I’ve crafted some truly warped things in my time but hearing you say THAT was by far the craziest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” he exclaimed astoundingly. Discord carefully approached the bed. His lion paw gently stroked the silk soft white fur on Celestia’s back. “Why in the world would you say such a thing?” he asked.

The princess looked groggily at Discord. Her eyes were puffy, red and still producing fresh tears. “Because it’s true, I’m a failure as a ruler. I’ve made so many, many mistakes and everyone in Equestria continues to pay for them. I feel like I’m just making everything up as I go along and hoping for the best. I feel no confidence or wisdom in my abilities anymore,” she said.

Discord’s face contorted erratically. He couldn’t believe his ears, he felt like he was in some wacky alternate reality or he was being pranked by some pony. Discord’s eyes rolled like pinballs, he tried to wrap his head around her words. “A failure…you?!? You’ve ruled Equestria successfully for over a thousand years and that was by YOURSELF I might add. Every pony loves you! Twilight practically worships the ground you walk on. How could you possibly think that you’re a-”

“Luna became Nightmare Moon because I was too arrogant and ignorant to realize she was suffering, an innocent pony lost two years of his life because I was brash, our country’s latest threat comes from an old friend I failed to save, and for years; I have been lying and hiding the truth from the same sweet and caring soul I always saw as a sort of grandson. So you tell me Discord, is there any other life crushing, colossal failure I’ve left out?” Celestia asked coldly.

“Ah yes I um…ahem…just uh…f-f-forget I asked,” he replied sheepishly. This was clearly far more serious than he realized.

Celestia wiped her tear soaked eyes clean with her wing.

“Every pony may love me and look up to me, but the only thing I can see now is one unforgivable failure after another. And there’s still so much to do and I just…I just…I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore,” Celestia confessed.

“Well I would say that’s obvious: I’m going to sit here, you’re going to talk and I’m going to listen and do everything I can to help you become the boring, goody two shoes princess everyone needs right now,” Discord said firmly.

The white mare attempted protest, but one flashing look on those rotten egg yellow eyes of his told her that his position was firm as steel. She smiled warmly. No words could explain how truly grateful she was that he was staying by her side during this, but she tried all the same.

“Thank you Dizzy, thank you,” she said passionately.

“That’s the first time you’ve called me that since our date together…I missed it,” he said; chortling softly.



In the heart of Canterlot, Princess Luna and Rebel Streak were approaching a luxuriously rich and extravagant house. The bold home practically screamed royalty with its gold colors and decorative use of fashion modeled gems. Both ponies looked increasingly nervous.

“Okay sweet stuff, mind spinning that record round one more time for me? Why the sudden cravings to get all face friendly with the parent patrol? Seems a little gun jumpy if you ask me,” Rebel inquired.

“Truth be told, I have been greatly enjoying our time together; far more than I could have ever hoped for. With a new battle rapidly approaching, I wish to take advantage of our availability while we still have it,” Luna explained. Rebel still looked uneasy but understood his girlfriend’s reasoning. “Besides, is it not customary to meet the birth givers of one’s date while in a relationship such as ours?” she added.

“No-no your right, that’s a pretty standard price of admission when boarding someone’s love cruise,” Rebel added. His voice still sounded strained and anxious.

“Last I checked, neither my sister nor I possess any ownership over a cruise liner,” Luna said matter-of-factly.

Her adorable naiveté genuinely made Rebel laugh a little. He felt some of his stress evaporating, though not entirely. Luna was acutely aware of her boyfriend’s odd behavior.

“Darling Rebel, why does speaking to your parents trouble you so? I know they have been unjustly horrid to you, but I thought it was I, the outsider who had more to fear from their scrutiny,” the princess said; her voice dripped with concern.

“Are you yanking my chain? Your Princess freaking Luna! Any mom and pop would sell their own skulls just to splash you into the family portrait. I’ll be lucky if they even remember I’m part of the tree,” Rebel exclaimed anxiously.

“You know I’m not. You lack any chains for sufficient yanking even if I desired so. But I don’t want you to worry about this in either case, my charming rogue. I have every confidence they will warm their hardened hearts to you when they see what a fetching mare you’ve landed,” Luna said with a flirtatious purr. She winked at him supportively.

Rebel blushed furiously at such glowing praise from his special some pony.

The punk pony hesitantly raised his hoof to knock on the front door. Luna nuzzled his cheek tenderly; giving him every bit of support he needed to ease him through this difficult matter. Rebel smiled more confidently and finally knocked.

The door opened. Upper Crust looked out at the two ponies, her features flattened drolly upon seeing her punk pony son standing at the doorway.

“Hmmm I don’t recall the forecast mentioning a shower of disappointment today,” she said dryly. Jet Set popped his head out and displayed a similarly disappointed expression upon seeing who it was.

Luna’s eyes practically leapt out of their sockets. “Your parents are JET SET AND UPPER CRUST?!?” she gasped; inadvertently speaking far louder than she had expected to.

Rebel Streak sighed miserably. He rolled his eyes and nodded in reply. He knew this was going to be one long day.

After being invited in, Princess Luna and Rebel explained to his parents the nature of their visit. Luna and Rebel sat on an icy blue loveseat while Jet Set and Upper Crust sat in twin, royal red recliner chairs with their initials embroidered in gold thread on the backs. Rebel told them he and Luna had been dating for some time and wanted to introduce his new girlfriend to them. Their reaction was not what he had been expecting, in fact, it was much worse than he was expecting.

Jet Set and Upper Crust burst into an uproar of derivative laughter. Hearing their son was dating one of the 4 princesses was just as preposterous as it was hilarious. Rebel cringed pitifully at his parent’s reaction, he felt like he was shrinking under the punishing weight of their crippling mockery. The punkish colt knew this was a bad idea.

Luna however was completely baffled. She didn’t understand what was even remotely funny about what she said, or why it was taking these snobs so long to recover from this so-called ‘joke.’

“Oh ho, ho, ho princess, you’re an exquisite delight. I knew you had class but I had no idea you had such a wicked sense of humor too,” Upper Crust said; giggling madly.

“I’ll vouch for that! I mean really, our delinquent son cavorting around with the princess of the night? How amusingly absurd,” Jet Set added. His snorts reminded Luna of some maggot eating wild boars she and Celestia came across in the Everfree forest when they were fillies.

“Excuse me, but I assure you this is no laughing matter. I am happily commencing courtship with your son,” Luna defended adamantly. Rebel just kept his head down and prayed this would be over soon. “And furthermore, I find your treatment of Rebel to be quite-”

“Ugh! Not this nonsense again. I know you favor this repulsive…style of yours Spendy, but I thought you had the decency to at least drop that frivolous moniker of yours,” the yellow mare scoffed haughtily.

“M-m-m-other please, I really like my clothing and my artist’s name,” Rebel babbled nervously. He felt so weak and powerless in front of those scrutinizing eyes.

“Mind your mother Spendy, you know those splotchy stains you glob on people’s walls can’t be considered art. They’re no more art than a wad of chewing gum lodged under a bench. I had really hoped you had already moved on from this embarrassing phase of yours,” Jet Set bitterly remarked.

Luna angrily interrupted the couple from hounding her boyfriend further. “Halt this sickening slander at once! I am at a loss to explain my frustrations. Why do you speak so viciously of your son’s talents, and why do you keep calling him Spendy? What does that even mean?” Luna demanded.

“That’s…sigh…that’s my real name, well; it’s the short version of it. My real name is Spendthrift,” Rebel conceded. He spoke so guiltily of this harsh truth. Rebel despised his real name, just another belittling reminder of his parents disdain for him and his talents. “Rebel Streak is just my street artist name.”

Luna looked bafflingly at her beloved colt. She had no idea how much misery his parents had routinely put him through; even with his own name. She always knew Upper Crust and Jet Set were royal pains, but this conversation was generating new levels of loathing she didn’t think were possible.

“And it’s quite an appropriate name your highness,” Jet Set clarified.

He magically rang a golden bell he had in one of his pockets. In seconds, a white Earth pony colt arrived carrying a pristine silver bucket with a bottle of champagne. The colt placed the bucket by Luna’s side and poured her a glass, before serving Jet Set and Upper Crust as well. The butler placed the bottle back into the bucket, took a bow and then left.

“We spent a great deal of money to try and whip our C- son into someone a bit more…A+ shall we say. Everything we tried failed miserably because Spendy wanted to ‘think outside the box’ and ‘not conform’ as he put it. What a senseless waste,” Upper Crust said. She took a few sips from her champagne glass.

“But mother, I tried to tell you that I didn’t want that lifestyle, I wanted to do things my own way,” Rebel protested.

“And how has that fruitless existence worked out for you, Spendy?” she cruelly probed.

“Gold doesn’t come from spray can splatters or self-mutilation you know,” Jet Set added; subtly expressing his disgust for Rebel’s piercings.

“My-my art has actually been selling quite a bit lately. I sold a few portraits to a couple tourists that came by 2 days ago, and I even got something officially approved by the royal sisters. The piece is actually painted on your favorite café,” Rebel said.

Jet Set and Upper Crust looked at each other briefly. They looked back to their disappointment of a son; silently sipping their drinks. A new found coldness was evident in their icy replies.

“I guess we’ll have to find a new café to visit dear,” Jet Set quipped.

“Pity; and I was looking forward to trying their new mint jelly bagels too,” Upper Crust added.

Rebel Streak hung his head down shamefully. He felt broken inside and out.

“Can I be excused? I need to use the washroom, I feel quite ill,” he whimpered sorrowfully.

“May you use the washroom, Spendy. We speak properly in this house after all,” Jet Set said with a nod.

Rebel slowly made his way to the bathroom upstairs. He didn’t dare look back at his parents for fear of being wounded by their disapproving glances once more.

“We apologize for our son grossly wasting your time like this, princess. We’ll make sure he never embarrasses you again,” Jet Set said apologetically. The snobbish couple ceased their spirited slandering upon noticing their royal guest was unusually quiet. “Princess, is something the matter?”

The reason Luna hadn’t said anything before was because she was struggling to contain the volcanic fury that was raging inside of her. The princess’s left eye was twitching; veins pulsated over her forehead and neck. Her magical aura was so intense; it actually crushed the silver bucket and champagne bottle like they were made of plastic. The champagne glass she held exploded almost instantly.

The snobbish unicorns suddenly flinched. Their judgmental eyes widened.

“I have been sitting here for 20 minutes, and in that time, the only thing you pretentious swine have done is reveled in the merciless butchery of your own son’s life’s work. You look down upon him like some negative colored ruminant mammal. How can you be so ashamed of the most enchanting and passionate stallion I have ever met?” Luna said scathingly. Her wings flared and her horn was sparking, it felt as if she was brewing a hurricane inside of the room.

Upper Crust giggled obnoxiously. She couldn’t help but be critical, even to a princess. “Actually princess, I believe black sheep is the term you were-”

“I’M NOT DONE TALKING!”

Luna’s royal Canterlot voice jolted the ponies off their seats and into each other’s arms. They clung fearfully together; acting as if their overpriced, well-groomed coats would shield them from her wrath.

“From this day forward, I hereby designate that Spendthrift’s name shall be forever changed to Rebel Streak! And furthermore, you will show your son the love and support he has always desired from you. Fail to comply with these two royal orders, and I swear on the moon that I will turn both of your dreams into a never ending shower of the most terrifying, horrific and unimaginable nightmares I can concoct; for the rest of your days! DOES THOU COMPREHEND?!?” Luna shrieked menacingly. She glared hatefully down upon them with her storm flashing eyes; like a demonic vulture from the deepest pits of darkness.

The unicorn couple turned shades of ghostly white. Their lips trembled senselessly; both too frightened to form words or thoughts. They merely nodded and continued quaking in their chairs.

Rebel finally returned from the washroom. He blinked curiously at his parent’s appearance. They looked like those victims you see in horror movies just before the killer hacks them to pieces.

“Hey, what just-”

“Come my darling scoundrel, I think stopping for a bite to eat would do both of us some good; especially since I have to be back at the castle soon.”

Luna pranced merrily past Rebel, stopped to kiss him on the cheek and then exited the home. Jet Set and Upper Crust squeaked nervously. The princess made sure to give them an all-knowing glare before leaving their oppressively, uncomfortable home.

Rebel exited shortly after. He stared curiously at his parent’s front door, alternating between it and the prancing flanks and tail of his beloved moon princess. His eyes suddenly widened. A coy smirk stretched across his lips.

“Say, what’d you do; you razor little minx you?” he asked slyly.



After Spike had run off, Twilight searched all over the castle for him but found no trace of him. Spike had run away once again. The panicking princess gathered her friends to fan out and search all over Canterlot for him. Princess Celestia joined the search as well. After a couple hours had passed, the ponies still had no luck in locating their scaly friend.

Twilight stood idly in the center of Canterlot’s main street; looking up at the castle as if it would whisper a clue to her of her adopted son’s whereabouts. Her eyes slowly widened as an idea sparked into her brilliant mind.

“I think I know where he might be,” she said hopefully.

She vanished in a flashy burst of light. Twilight eventually made her way to the farthest reaches of the back of the castle; in the mountains. She vividly remembered Celestia’s description of it in her story. A small surge of light steadied her turbulent heart upon seeing a figure sporting a familiar set of green and purple scales standing there.

It was him, it was Spike.

The heartbroken dragon stood like a hollowed shell in front of a collapsed cave. His eyes stared vacantly at the unremarkable pile of rocks and boulders. Were anyone to walk past this sight, they’d find it no different than any other mountain side view.

But to Spike, this was more than just a closed off cave…this was his parents gravesite. Here, buried under the piercing pile of crushing stones, laid the mother and father he would never share a single moment of happiness with. No bedtime kisses from mom, no stern talks from dad, no memories of family outings; all of it had been snatched away by the hands of death and the passage of time.

There was no family here…just a place for dead things that no soul knew or cared enough to grieve over; no one except the son who would never feel his parent’s loving embrace.

“I used to look past this mountain through your telescope. We had that great big view from our house. We used it to look all over Canterlot, trying to see every cool landmark or constellation in space. I always thought the mountain was the most boring thing to look at. Who’d ever thought it was the one place I’ve been looking for all my life,” Spike said gloomily. He raised his claw and placed it on one of the rocks. Sighing heavily, he dragged his claw down the rock sluggishly.

“I had a feeling you might be here Spike. Even though I’m not your real mom, I was worried sick about you,” Twilight whimpered suggestively. She hoped Spike would at least look at her; let her see he’s all right. The dragon’s eyes remained coldly locked on the empty epitaph.

“I wonder what they’d think of me now. I mean, dragons don’t always have the highest opinions of ponies, but I’d like to think maybe they’d be proud of who I’ve become,” he said dully.

Twilight hated this. She felt like someone was repeatedly stabbing her heart, it was tearing her up inside. She wanted nothing more than to run to him, wrap her hooves around him and tell him everything was going to be all right.

But that was a job for his mother, not some silly filly who got him during an entrance exam.

Twilight raised a hoof outwardly to her ghost of a son. Her violet eyes desperately longing for him to make contact with hers, but he remained hauntingly frozen; unable to look away. She figured he must need time to deal with all of this. Slowly, she turned to leave.

“Hey…Twilight…you’ve read books about feeling pain and…like…nerve endings and stuff like that, right?”

Twilight’s ears perked up. She stopped and turned to look back at Spike, nodding. Spike didn’t see her nod, but he knew how smart she was. He knew the answer had to be yes.

“I know there’s no info on how dragon’s bodies work, but I was just wondering,” he mused brokenly. The dreary dragon turned his face towards Twilight. She gasped aloud. Spike was sobbing his eyes out, drowning his quivering lips in waves of tears. “Do you…do you think it hurt when they…do you think they suffered…do you?”

The crying pair rushed towards each other almost immediately. Twilight and Spike wrapped their arms across each other’s bodies. They buried their muzzles in each other; soaking their respective shoulders in even more tear drops.

“I’m so, so, so sorry, I didn’t mean to say those awful things to you guys. You’ve all been the best friends a dragon could have asked for. I was just angry, I wasn’t thinking straight,” he wept heavily.

“I know that, of course I know that Spike. I should have been more understanding to your pain. You’ve gone through so much lately. I’m sorry we weren’t there for you, I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. I’ve failed you, as a care giver, as a friend and-”

Spike abruptly cut her off. He shook his head and gently pulled back from her.

“No Twilight, you’ve been the greatest…well…everything. You gave me a home, love, affection. Everything that’s good inside of me, I have because of you. Even though I finally now know where I come from, that doesn’t change anything between us. You have and will always be my mom.”

As if casting a magical spell, Spike’s words warmed Twilight’s heart and caused all of the pain and heartache inside to disappear. The purple mare embraced her dragon once more and never wanted to let him go. It felt a little strange hugging such a taller, more muscular version of her number one assistant. Twilight giggled at the thought. The two eventually separated.

“Come on, we should be heading back now. I know several ponies who will be so thrilled to see you back,” Twilight said merrily.

“R-r-r-really, even after all the horrible things I said to them?” he asked hesitantly.

“Though it was in anger, there was a lot of truth in what you said. I bet everyone is already thinking of ways to make it up to you. I promise that we will do everything in our power to make sure you never feel alone or forgotten again. It’s going to take time, I know, we did a lot of damage and you deserve all the time in the world to figure out when you feel you’re ready to forgive us,” Twilight said earnestly.

“But do you think Princess Celestia will ever forgive me? I was way out of line back there. I don’t think anyone’s ever spoken to her like that. I should be thrown in the dungeon or something,” Spike said miserably.

“There’s not a single thing you said that I would ever hold you accountable for, Spike,” Celestia said soothingly. Spike and Twilight turned suddenly. The snow white princess approached them with a wilted frown. She bowed her head in unconditional compassion. Spike bit his lip; fidgeting uneasily.

“I was the only guilty party in that room. I should have told you what happened to your parents from the very beginning. I thought I was sparing you from a terrible pain, but all I really did was needlessly draw it out. I am infinitely sorry my young friend. If you choose so, I’d understand if you never-”

“I forgive you princess.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. Spike’s boldness had caught her off guard. Twilight smiled smugly, she felt such pride seeing her son’s maturity.

“What happened to my mom and dad wasn’t your fault, it was Khan’s. All you were trying to do was keep me from growing up sad and depressed. I’m sorry for how I acted in front of you. I wasn’t ready to understand everything, but now more than ever, I feel I’m ready to face the truth about who and what I am.”

Twilight patted his back with a comforting wing.

“We’ll have to do some tests to understand your new transformation, but I have a feeling it’s going to stick this time. You haven’t gotten any bigger since the attack in Ponyville, and your intelligence has actually increased instead of decreasing like last time. My theory is that your love and desire to protect Rarity triggered your change, and since it’s a more positive emotion than greed, maybe it’ll last longer.”

“I suspect Twilight’s hypothesis is correct. Your accelerated transformations seem to be triggered by emotional awareness. Perhaps your transformations on your birthday were unstable due to your lack of control of your dragon greed, and you can control it more effectively now that you’re older.”

Spike scratched his head idly. All of this talk about emotional awareness, intelligence fluctuations and everything else was making his head spin. His green eyes flashed suddenly. He just remembered something very important he had to tell everyone.

“Princess Celestia, mom, there’s something really important I got to tell you. It’s about Chimera Khan; I think I know of a way we can beat him,” he said firmly.

Celestia chuckled softly. She rubbed his taller green scales with her hoof; smiling sweetly. “I think that’s something every pony would be pleased to hear. But before we tackle that issue, I believe there is a certain someone who needs have a heart to heart with you,” she said; matter-of-factly.

Before Twilight or Spike could ask what the sun princess was referring to, she blasted a nearby bush with her horn beam. The bush vanished and Rarity collapsed to the ground. She squeaked in shock; falling face first in a most un-lady like manner. The purple pair were both visibly stunned.

“What the…Rarity?!? What the heck are you doing here?” Twilight exclaimed.

“Come Twilight, I think they could use some privacy,” Celestia said.

Twilight reluctantly followed her mentor. She sputtered many protests as she was hurried off the mountain. The princess’s headed back to the castle to wait for them with the others.

Rarity stumbled back onto her hooves; dusting her white coat off. She looked sheepishly at the dragon she had been following. She felt just like when her mom has caught stealing gems from her jewelry for her early fashion designs.

Spike stared flatly at the exposed mare. He was still visibly hurt and irritated with the pony he had fallen in love with. The memory of Rarity’s horrified reaction at his new form still painfully vivid in his mind.

“Let me guess: we need to talk?”



To be continued…