//------------------------------// // Exit Anon-a-miss. Enter the Dragon. Phoenix Reborn // Story: Exit Anon-a-miss. Enter the dragon // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// After they had rescued Sunset Shimmer and Spike from, what could’ve been, their icy, watery doom, the Rainbooms quickly rushed them to the nearby hospital. "Poor Sunset," Fluttershy frowned, looking sadly at the once fiery girl, who now lies in bed, squirming under the layers of thick blankets over her for warmth. "Aw Spike, the poor dear," The timid girl said, looking down at the dragon-turned-dog she is carrying in her arm, wrapped in a bundle of wooly cloths. Like Sunset, Spike was squirming uneasily in the shy girl's arms, kicking and thrusting his paws out aggressively, attempting to wriggle himself free from Fluttershy. "Looks like the little guy's got it, worse than Sunset!" Rainbow frowned in concern. "Oh I'm sure," Fluttershy nodded. "If I had ever fallen into that lake, I....Oh! I just can't bear to imagine how horrid it must be!" She said, tightening her embrace around Spike. At the same time, Twilight, and the other Spike walked into the room, with Applejack and Wallflower Blush following, "How are they doing?" Applejack asked. "Anything yet?" "They're still zonked out, that's for sure," Rainbow frowned. "I'm just glad we managed to find them in time." "Just a few more minutes, and they'd be goners for sure!" Pinkie spoke up, receiving disturbed stares from the others. "What?" Forgetting what the eccentric girl just said, the Rainbooms all turned their attention to Sunset, seeing the uneasy expression clear on her face, together with the sound of her moans, that are strangely in sync with Spike's. Where's My Love - SYML For what felt like an endless passing of long hours, Sunset began to open her eyes, to an endless void of darkness. "Where-OH!!" Sunset began, slowly getting up, and was met with a blast of cold wind. So cold, it threatens to freeze her. The girl quickly wrapped her arms, struggling in futile to warm herself from the sheer cold, "Where...where am I?" Sunset shivered, her teeth chatting, feeling her fingers and toes turning numb, as if she's experiencing a severe frostbite. "Spike?" The girl cried out for the little dragon. "Spike? Spike! Where are you!!" No answer came. For a moment, her only companions was silence and the cold. To further the girl's discomfort, dread took hold of her, as the clammy feeling of loneliness started crawling up her back, fueling her anxiety that she could be trapped in a state of limbo, where she could be alone for all eternity. Shaking those fearful thoughts away, Sunset desperately called out, "Help! Is anybody there?!" Another blast of the wind knocked her down, with another ice cold sensation. "Please, help me!" Again, there was no answer. At least, for a short while. An answer came, in the form of her friends' angry accusations, with hints of demonic tones. "How could you do this to us?" Applejack sounded. "We trusted you Sunset!" Rainbow's voice snarled. "We thought you were our friend!" "How could you do this?" Rarity sobbed. "After all we've been through together?" "You must've just been pretending to be our friend, when all along you were after our secrets!!" Pinkie's voice hissed from sadness to anger. "I knew you're still a bad guy! You secret stealer!" "You're still the pony we thought you weren't anymore." Fluttershy teared up. "You're not our friend!" "Am I?" Sunset's voice was heard, much to the cold frighten girl's confusion. "AM I?!!! LET US FIND OUT!!!" Every hateful words spoken from the Rainbooms from the past is like a blade cutting across her skin. Every shots fired at her heart. Every thing Sunset's every stood for to make a difference being skewered by accusations and betrayal. To further her torment, Trixie's voice was heard, "Why, I assumed you were. You tricked your friends, stole their secrets, and posted them for all to see. I could've done better." Then, came the most heart wrenching flashback of all. One that Sunset would never knew, had Wallflower not interfered. "I remember this one!" Sunset moaned, as an image projected itself before her. "I saw it! Moments before the Memory Stone was destroyed!" In her vision, Sunset could see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sitting in the cafeteria together, surrounded by angry students, all fighting amongst themselves, brothers, sisters, friends, all divided apart, "All because of Anon-a-Miss," Rainbow Dash sighed. "Do you really think Sunset Shimmer is Anon-a-Miss?" Fluttershy asked. "I don't know!" Rainbow replied. "I don't want to believe it, but who else could've gotten all our secrets?" "I know what you mean," The shy girl spoke. "We let her into our hearts, and now...." "She was our friend! More than a friend-she was family!" "Maybe-Even family makes mistakes." "Maybe. I don't know if you can forgive them, though." Those last few words echoed, ringing like bells all around Sunset, threatening to break both her mind and heart. "So even though they didn't want to believe I was Anon-a-Miss, they still chose to believe it was me," Sunset muttered, tightening a hand into a fist. "They chose to believe.....they chose Anon-a-Miss OVER ME!!!!" She wailed. More haunting whispers were heard. Each more ice chilling than the last that can drive a person mad. "Anon-a-miss." "Secret stealer." "Thief." "Omg did you see what she posted about u???." "Keep posting more." "What kind of monster." “No! No! No! PLEASE!!!” Sunset pleaded. “Stop! Stop! Make it stop!” But the nightmare didn't listen as they continue their hateful assault on the girl, who was left alone to plead for them to cease and desist. "It won't stop!" A demonic voice boomed. "It will never stop! None of this will!" In a burst of fire, the figure revealed herself before Sunset's fearful eyes. There, standing before her, flapping those horrid, monstrous bat-like wings, looking down at her with those icy cold eyes, was Sunset herself. Her past demon. Her inner demon. Her dark side. "No!" Sunset pleaded, straining to deny the sight of her she-demon. "It can't be!" "But it is," Demon Sunset cackled menacingly. "You can deny all you want, but it's never going to change. You knew this was going to happen, sooner or later. Me, stuck deep inside you. Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?" The demon mocked. "Well, I have bad news for you girl. You can't! I was never gone. Because I am you. The real you. When the Elements of Harmony struck me with their magic, I was trapped inside. A prisoner of this pathetic, goody-two shoes persona you so desperately tried to pass yourself off as. But now, thanks to those three ungrateful brats and that sniveling Wallflower Blush, and her Memory Stone, they had reminded us of the pain we had endured from those who betrayed us.” “They rejected us!” The demon continued to rant. “Turned the world and our ‘friends’ against us! They reminded us that they were never our family! Face it, Sunset. Friendship has failed you. Anon-a-Miss has scarred us for life. There’s no healing for such wound as deep as Anon-a-Miss.” “They wronged us, and I will make it right! And there’s no one to blame but the CMC, the Rainbooms, and Wallflower for their betrayals. They all played a part in my resurrection. And they will all pay dearly, with their lives!!” "No! You can't!" Sunset winced, struggling to get up, but was forced back down by an invisible force. "Oh please, dear sweet Sunset," The demon chided. "There's no point of making a change, when the world can't forget about our misdeeds. You said it yourself. We're cursed to endure all this. History will keep repeating itself for you. You did something wrong, you try and make it right, but then something goes wrong, and so on and so forth. It's never gonna change." Sunset shook her head, struggling to deny every words the demon said. But she continued, "Let me take charge, sweetie. No more bad memories. No more pain. No more fear. Isn't that wonderful?" The demon grinned deviously. Sunset turned her head away, not daring to look at the demon again. Once more, she was assaulted by all of the haunting, hateful voices surrounding her, each growing more demonic by the seconds. But somewhere amidst the hissing, the screams, and the scornful hates, a single tearful cry was heard. It sounded almost like that of a child. Slowly opening her eyes, wincing from the hates that recoiled in her ears, Sunset looked past the murky shadows and her demon to see a faint blur of purple. Her visions began to clear up as she got up to her feet, ignoring the cold winds that continues to bite her skin, and the voices ringing in her ears, she started taking careful steps closer to the blur, to see it was none other but Spike, in his true dragon form. "Spike!" Sunset gasped, in which all the demonic voices ceased and fell silent, as the girl slowly stood up on her feet, wincing from the colds that continues to numb her skin. "Oh, look," Demon Sunset muttered. "It's that little purple runt of a dragon." The demon looked down, sneering at the sight of Sunset braving the cold, as she makes her way towards the dragon. "What are you doing?” “I...have to get....to him!” Sunset shivered, while taking a few steps towards the dragon. “Save....him!” “Aw, how cute. You're trying to save him. The last noble thing you will ever do." The demon taunted, before she shrugged her shoulders, “But of course, you and he aren’t that much different. I should know, I’ve seen it all.” The demon snickered as an emphasis on all. “Why don’t I take the liberty to shed some lights on the little dragon's story, with my perspective on things." With that, Sunset's whole world was swallowed up by blinding lights, and she began to see a series of visions, each narrating different parts of Spike's story. The first vision Sunset could see was an image of Spike’s egg. "I'm sure Twilight has told you bits and bits of her's and Spike's story, like how he came to be her number one assistant," Demon Sunset narrated. "But I can assure you, his story holds a deeper meaning than that. While we both came from humble beginnings; plain old unicorns who have great potentials to be so much more, the little runt was forced to endure the difficulties he had to face, growing up in a society, completely foreign from the one he came from, never knowing his biological mother and father, nor his roots, his heritage, or even his name." "Instead, fate had a wry sense of humor, as it decided the young dragon was to be found an orphan egg. A test subject for the entrance exam of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight passed the exam with, literal, flying colors, hatching the young dragon, starting their life story together. True, Twilight may have hatched Spike, but she was never his mother. But she was the only family he had ever known. Pity that she and their friends did not treat him enough to properly secure that bond." Winter Wrap Up The first vision Sunset Shimmer saw were all the ponies, gather around, after a successful Winter Wrap Up. But then, one pony who bears a resemblance to Applejack laughed, "Spike's sure gonna be in for a hog-sized surprise when that last piece of ice melts." With that, the ponies all laughed together at the sight of the young dragon, snoring and curled up into a ball, on a block of ice, oblivious to the fact that he was floating out in the middle of a lake. But rather than joining in the laughter, Sunset was rather disgusted at the ponies' amusements, as if they don't care what happens to Spike. "Yes," Demon Sunset hissed. "Heartless, isn't it? Poor little guy. He's only a baby dragon. And a dragon his age shouldn't have to experience such cruelty." Then, the visions shifted to when Spike was fished out of the water, shaking violently from the bitter cold, dripping down his scales, sneezing with a burst of green flames, while the ponies continue to laugh at him. "Spike," Sunset frowned, holding her hands out. "Don't worry, Sunset," The demon smiled deviously. "This won't go unpunished. We'll get to that, soon." Owl's Well That Ends Well "Spike. What is this?" Twilight asked, in a demanding and stern voice. "You said this book was missing. Well, Owlowiscious found it right where it belongs, but like this. How did it get this way?" The Princess of Friendship, back when she was a regular unicorn, presented to a frighten young Spike, with charred remains of what was once a book. "Uh... Well, um... You see, I... I just didn't wanna disappoint you and, uh..." Spike admitted, frightened at the fact he is now busted. "Have you ever seen a dragon sneeze?" "I've seen a dragon lie. I'm very disappointed in you, Spike," Twilight frowned. Then, as if it wasn't crazy enough, Spike went as far as to put on a top hat, a long dark cape, and a mustache for a villain persona as he hatched a diabolical scheme to frame the owl. "So lifelike," The dragon said, as he held up a little toy mouse. "And when Twilight discovers it shredded up on her floor, she'll think mouse-eating Owlowiscious is to blame. And I'll be number one... again! Muhahaha!" "Reminds you of someone else, Sunset?" Demon Sunset asked. Later, when Twilight wasn't home, Spike attempted to fake the scene of the crime, but was caught in the act. Nevertheless, he feigned horror, "That poor little field mouse! Torn to pieces! It must have been Owlowiscious! You know, since owls eat, you know, mice. What a terrible, terrible bird! He must be punished! Right?" Of course, Twilight wasn't stupid, and didn't bought the story, "Spike! I don't know what upsets me more. That you deliberately tried to set up Owlowiscious or that you actually thought this pathetic attempt would work! You've let your jealousy get the best of you, Spike. I am truly disappointed. This is not the Spike I know and love." Spike, of course, was heartbroken to hear this, "She... She doesn't love me anymore." "Of course she doesn't Spike," Demon Sunset cackled. "She was never your mom, so it shouldn't be a surprise. What happened to you at the end of that Winter Wrap Up was proof enough!" The Best Night Ever "Yeah! This is gonna be the best night ever. You know why? 'Cause we're all gonna spend time at the Gala to..." Before Spike could finish, the girls instantly abandoned him."-gether. Or not." He sighed. Sunset held her hands out for the young dragon, seeing the look of neglects and hurtful loneliness in his eyes. They mirrored the ones she's experience before. "Awful, isn't it?" The demon continued. "To be left alone and neglected, in pursuit of some self interests. Pity this isn't the last time Twilight and her friends have forgotten to include Spike on those happy bonding moments they cherished so much." With that, Demon Sunset Shimmer went on to list all the episodes in which the said Princess Of Friendship was together with her friends, yet Spike was out of the picture. Sonic Rainboom - After Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy left Ponyville for Cloudsdale to enter in the Young Flyer's Competition, Twilight and the other girls followed, courtesy of Twilight's Walk-On-Cloud Spell. Yet, she had neglected to use that spell on Spike, thus leaving him behind in Ponyville, while they left to cheer their athletic friend. Sweet and Elite - After receiving a letter from Rarity, stating that she is unable to return to Ponyville from Canterlot in time for Twilight's birthday, the Ponyville friends all took the next train to Canterlot. All, except one dragon who was left behind. MMMystery on the Friendship Express - While the ponies were onboard the train towards Canterlot to enter a cake in the National Dessert Competition, Spike was absent in the contest at Canterlot. Where could he be? Where else, at the Golden Oak Library to watch over the place. Just For Sidekick - Princess Cadence had invited Twilight and her friends to come to the Crystal Empire to help with a welcome committee, specifically for the Head of the Equestria Games. Yet, for some odd reasons, the Crystal Princess overlooked the young dragon, who is the hero of the empire. Maud Pie - This was the Ponyville girls' first time to meeting Pinkie Pie's sister, Maud Pie. Yet, Spike wasn't present to meet her in pony. And no one even noticed he wasn't there. Saddle Row Review - It was during which the Ponyville friends traveled to Manehattan to assist their fashionista friend, Rarity, in opening her new shop. One would think Twilight's Number One Assistant was not too far behind. But he was once again, left behind. All Bottled Up - Twilight and her friends were leaving for Manehattan to enjoy themselves a Friendship Retreat, yet they didn't bother to bring Spike along for the trip. He was once again left behind in Ponyville, with Starlight and Trixie to watch over him. The Mean Six - Once again, Twilight and her friends have planned themselves another Friendship Retreat. But the cruel irony was that Spike was not included in this second retreat. Instead, Starlight Glimmer had taken his place. "Another friendship retreat...." Spike muttered. "Alone again.....naturally." "Spike!" Sunset shed a single tear, looking at the dragon with limitless empathy. Back in the void they were both trapped in, the young dragon huddled himself even closer, feeling colder and colder with every passing seconds. "Aw, it hurts, doesn't it?" The demon taunted. "It's no wonder you never did learn how to share....otherwise, this probably wouldn't have happened." Secret of My Excess In this next vision, Sunset watched as the young dragon was celebrating his first birthday in Ponyville, with Twilight and their friends. Unfortunately, after receiving his presents from the girls, as well as a sapphire cupcake from the Cakes, a hat from a pony who is Cheerilee's counterpart, and a ball from a random pony, the dragon got greedy. Initially, it started off as a simple growth spurt, in which Spike finds his arms and longs extended the next day, with an itch to plunder and steal whatever he's set his sights on. At first, all Spike stole were just a bundle of apples from Sweet Apple Acres. Then he sets his sight on toys, books, and cakes. With every items he stole, in his unquenchable thirst of greed, the more out of control he became, before he was mutated into a huge, monstrous, rampaging dragon that nearly destroyed Ponyville. "No! No! STOP IT!! PLEASE!!! NO, NOT MY HOME!!!" Spike screamed. "NOT MY HOME!! STOP!! NOOOOOO!!!" "Spike!" Sunset called out to him. "It's okay, this isn't real! It's just a vision from the past!" "Don't waste your tears on these ponies, Spike!" Demon Sunset continued to rant. "They had this coming for their disrespect and neglect! If they had spent more time with you, then I'm certain they would've known this would happen if greed goes uncheck. But they didn't! And let's not forget, THIS!!!" The Best Gift Ever It was last year, when Twilight and her friends were celebrating Hearth's Warming together with their friends and family, at Friendship Castle. Of course, like Sunset Shimmer's, this holiday was nothing but relaxing. After Discord had duped Rainbow Dash into bringing a WinterChilla, which later became a Winter-Zilla at dark, the creature went on a rampage, eating anything it sees that sparkles, even Spike, whom Twilight didn't hesitate to use as live bait. "A live bait!" Demon Sunset screamed, furthering Spike's torment. "I mean, what kind of a friend would go out of their way to use someone like you for bait? That's a new low, even for us! Doesn't that make you, angry?" "Of course it does," Spike's voice muttered. iNSaNiTY With that, Sunset Shimmer was warped back to the cold dark void, just in time to see the young dragon, engulfed in a coat of fire. "Spike!" Sunset gasped, walking her way towards the dragon, only to suddenly fall to the cold floor, facedown by another blast of the wind. "After all I did for them," Spike panted heavily, with the fires around him coming to life. "After everything we've been through together.....is this all the thanks I get?" "Spike?" Sunset looked up, eyes widened in horror to see her inner demon was hovering over the young dragon. "These insolent fools don't deserve any forgiveness," Demon Sunset said venomously. "They don't deserve us, and they especially don't deserve YOU!!! Every little good deeds we do, every requests we fulfill, they are all for nothing! History will repeat itself again and again. Just like Anon-a-Miss with us, and Winter Wrap Up and the Grand Galloping Gala with you." From her position, Sunset looked at the expression on Spike's face, seeing the discomfort written clearly at the last two painful reminders were both a jab to his aching heart. "You're right, Spike," The demon continued, as she snarled a devious grin. "You're right about the both of us. We're not so different after all. We're both alike in our own ways. We've been downgraded so much, when we should be getting respect!" She said, emphasis on respect by clenching her claws into a fist, emitting a bright fiery aura. "Every dreams made real, every wishes fulfilled. We can rule all, have all!" The demon got down to Spike's level, as she placed her finger beneath Spike's chin, directing his gaze up towards her. "Just allow me inside your soul, and the worlds will be ours!" Sunset's eyes widened in fright, quickly realizing what the demon was trying to do. She turned her attention to Spike, seeing how conflicted he is on the offer that was given to him. Not daring to wait and find out what his decision would be, Sunset forced herself up with all her might, "STOOOOOOOPPPPPP!!!!" She screamed, rushing towards the young dragon, only to be blown away by the winds. "Don't prolong the agony, Sunset," The demon grumbled. "This is doing what is right and just. The two worlds had this coming. So now, they must pay! With the power of the geode, this little dragon's firepower, merged with the darkness of such negativity we both share, nothing will stop us!! The world will know the terrible beauty of our fury!" "No! Not yet....!" Sunset struggled, as she once again reaches out for the dragon. "Spike! You must believe me, this isn't the way!" "Why not?" The demon asked on Spike's behalf. "The worlds rejected us! We don't owe this world or anyone, anything!" "Even so, this won't make a difference!" Sunset began. "This can never take away the difficulties we had to endure from Anon-a-Miss! This is getting too far enough as it is!" "Oh, poor naive Sunset," The demon mocked. "This is no longer about you and I. This is about little Spike here, remember? This is doing what is right and just for all the times Princess Twilight has wronged him!" Then, with a wave of her hands, the demon conjured a stain glass window, depicting the Winter Wrap Up event, when Spike was cruelly left out in the middle of the lake, and succumbed to a cold afterwards. "Go ahead. Do it Spike. You know you want to. Give it a try." The demon beckoned. "Spike-" Once again, Sunset was silenced by the demon. "This is for....." Spike breathed heavily, as that painful memory flashed before his eyes, fueling his rage. "This is for dropping me into that freezing lake!" Spike roared, blasting a burst of green fireball at the window. "Bravo, Spike! Bravo!" Demon Sunset applauded gleefully, while Sunset watched helpless as the young dragon's rage unfolds before her. "This is for using me as bait for that Winter-Zilla!" Spike roared, blasting another stain glass window that depicted an image of him, nearly getting eaten by the creature. "Make time stand still, Spike!" The demon encouraged. "For always leaving me behind, and forgetting me!" The dragon continued to vent out his pent-up frustration, blasting several windows in which they depicted only Twilight and the girls, with him being absent. "For never including me in any Friendship Retreats." He muttered, as he destroyed the last windows where Twilight and the girls had done some bonding experiences, but he wasn't included. "For someone who dared called herself your friend? For someone who you looked up to as family. Yet, where was she when you were all alone? Where is she now, when you needed her the most?" Spike was about to answer, but the demon stopped him. "No need to answer, I know where. She's at a party, at Sweet Apple Acres, with her friends. And you weren’t even invited to come along?" Spike closed his eyes, dipping his head sadly, failing to hold his tears back, "No," He shook his head. "Twilight wouldn't even let me come. She just gave me more chores to do, and to do the dishes." "Ah, yes. The worst thing about her being the Princess of Friendship," Demon Sunset nodded, conjuring up a memory from Amending Fences. "Here. Let me put you out of YOUR MISERY!!!” The demon screamed, clapping her claws together on both sides of Spike’s head. “AAAAAAAHHH!!!!!” Spike wailed in pain, feeling the intense heat and wave of the darkness flowing into him. “SPIKE!!!” Sunset screamed, as she suddenly finds the strength to get back up and fought her inner demon. "Leave him alone!" "STAY BACK!!!" The demon snarled, throwing Sunset off. “Spike, listen to me!” Sunset said frantically. “You’re being misguided! I’ve seen more than what she has! The love we all have for you, the appreciation for all the good deeds you have done!” “ENOUGH!!!” Demon Sunset snarled, as she raised a free hand out and fired several fireballs blasted them at Sunset Shimmer, who quickly ran around the void, to evade the fires. “I understand you, Spike!” Sunset continued. “I know what it means for you to grow up, alone in a world that is completely foreign to the one you come from! And I know what it means to have your friends as your only family. But this isn't the answer!" "You hear that, Spike?" The demon spatted, while maintaining her grip on the young dragon. "Sunset's telling you what to do. She's talking like she's Twilight!" "Only because I know Twilight, just as much as you do!" Sunset quickly ducked her head, dodging an attack from the demon. "I know there's no excuse for all the times she's left you out. But she really does care about you. Her friendship for you is true! Remember, when you left Ponyville to join the Great Dragon Migration? Where was she, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash?" Spike blinked his eyes, as he recalled, "They were....they were right behind me." "ENOUGH!!!" The demon screamed, as she sent another gust of wind, which blew Sunset away, then she turns on Spike again. "Friendship is just a fleeting sentiment. Don't let her prolong your torment. It's time we end this now, or history will continue to repeat itself." Again, Sunset refuses to let the demon have her way, "Spike. Don't let her take you! You're better than this! Remember what happened at the Grand Equestria Summit? When all that power got to your head? This is what she wants! And I know you don't want that!" See Princess Spike. "But just think of all the respects you will have," The demon tempted. "No pony will ever forget you again. No one will ever humiliate you again, or left you behind, because they will remember you for what you are. Do you want to be a leader? Or a downgraded follower?" Spike was silent for a moment, as he pondered, "Well....being a leader does sound nice," He admitted. "Okay, Spike. You can be a leader if you want to," Sunset spoke up. "But you're not a tyrant either. Remember, the Gauntlet of Fire? You gave up the chance to be the Dragon Lord to Ember, just for the sake of Equestria. You're a hero!" See the Gauntlet of Fire. "Don't you mean a zero?" The demon spatted, as she forced Sunset back, blasting an explosive fireball. "Think for a moment, Spike. If you are truly a hero, then why aren't you remembered as one? Why are you not respected as one, besides Twilight and her friends? Your name could've been known throughout all of Equestria, yet here you are, still in the shadows!" "There's more to being a hero than just being famous, Spike!" Sunset spoke again, while holding her inflicted arm that was scorched from the blast. "It's not the amount of attentions that makes the creature a hero, but the power that comes from the heart. Remember the courage you've shown to saving the Crystal Empire, when King Sombra returned? Or the second time after that, when you saved an entire stadium from a giant frozen cloud? Or when you befriended Thorax?" See the Crystal Empire Part 2, the Equestria Games, and a Time When They Are Changelings. "You did all that, because you know it was the right thing to do!" Sunset continued. "You're a friend to everyone! Now, think of yourself as a friend again, and do what you truly think is right!" At this point, the demon scowled in frustration, as she flies towards Sunset, carrying Spike in her arms, "NO MORE WORDS!!!" With that, the demon brought her claws down on Sunset. Sunset braced herself for the blow, but it never came, "STOP!!!" Spike barked, as he held the demon's arm back. "Leave her alone!!" "And what are you going to do about it?" The demon asked. Spike turned to Sunset, seeing how bruised, battered, and cold she looked, before turning back to face the demon, "The same thing Sunset would do," He said, feeling an intense heat rising in his throat. "Fight for my family and for what is right," With a strong exhale of breath, a great burst of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth, burning the demon. "NOOOO!!!!" Demon Sunset wailed, struggling to fight back. "Don't you see? I'm offering you a chance of recognition! A chance to finally free ourselves from these torments! You are sealing your fate!" "But if we ever to choose between you, or fate," Sunset scowled, as she got back up. "We'll choose fate, all the way!" “I NEED YOU!!!” Demon Sunset desperately wailed, before she vanished completely. With the demon gone, everything around Sunset and Spike quickly warmed up, as every trace of dark magic melted away. Show Me The Light - Rudolph The Movie "Spike," Sunset panted, heavily from the exhilaration. "Thank you." "No..." Spike turned to Sunset, as he bowed his head, respectfully to her. "Thank you, Sunset." The fiery girl couldn't help but blush, as she rubbed her scorched arm with the unharmed one. It was all so overwhelming for the fiery girl, for this is actually the first time in her life, when she has actually seen Spike for what he really is. A dragon. The girl recalled one of her studies, in which she had viewed dragons to be fearless, greedy, destructive beasts. But the young one she sees before her is living proof that contradicts everything she once believed. Speaking of which, Sunset senses the feelings of doubts and fear that still lingers in the young dragon, "Is something the matter, Spike?" Sunset asked. "Do you want to talk about it right now?" Knowing there's no fooling Sunset, the dragon admitted, "I'm....I'm a little scared. I'm not sure how I'll talk to Twilight again...I..I still-" Not giving the young dragon a chance to finish, Sunset quickly picked him up in her arms, and she held him close, hugging him like he was just a toy, in need of comfort, or in this case, warmth, because of how cold they both are upon contact. "Shhhh," Sunset quietly hushed, acting like something Fluttershy would do. "There, there Spike. Everything’s going to be okay." The young dragon had a look of confusion, but still felt somewhat relieved as he felt most of his heartaches melting away, and a heavy weight being lifted. And yet, he was still unsure. "Why?" Spike asked. "Why are you-I didn't ask for a hug....." "But you need it," Sunset replied, tightening the embrace. "And I need it too." Still unsure of what the girl just said, Spike slowly, but gladly returned the gesture, wrapping his claws around the girl's neck, nuzzling his cheek closer to Sunset's face. "Thanks, Sunset....I...I," The little dragon wept in gratitude. “But I still....I don’t know....why? I'm always left behind, or alone. And I've made so many mistakes." “Because it's not fair!" Sunset answered. "Sure, I've made as much mistakes than you have, and I know what it's like for me and Wallflower to be forgotten by my friends, or to even be left behind, during Anon-a-Miss. But overall, it’s not worth isolating yourself. I-“ Sunset instantly had another epiphany. “You know what? Maybe I’ve got to invite you instead.” “Really?” “Uh huh." The girl nodded. "We’re not cursed! But we're not perfect either. Not even our families. Because that's just life. Families make mistakes. Sometimes, they can or cannot be forgiven and forgotten. But in truth, despite all of the hates and aggressions, we still need each other. And right now, I need your help, Spike!” “You do? But why? And how can help you? I’ll probably just-“ “Spike, It’s okay. Everything will be okay. I’ve been there, remember?" The little dragon slowly nodded as the girl lifted his chin up to look in her eyes and she continued, "Hey. Hey, I know it. You didn't mean to hurt everyone, or ruin everything." The girl sighed, "I know that you just....you just feel scared and alone, because you missed out so much." Spike looked up at Sunset's with eyes widened in wonder, as if her words took effect on him, "I know how that feels for you to be treated unfairly, just because you're so different from the rest, or to be judged unfairly by your past mistakes. So I just want you to know that I forgive you, just as Twilight and our friends have forgiven us." “And I’m sorry with the way I said that 'I don't need you, or anybody.'" A single tear managed to escape Sunset's eyes, which she was unable to hold back. "What I should’ve said was....I-I-I wished we didn't have to fight all the time." Spike looked up at Sunset, shedding some tears with her, as he recalled the haunting mistakes he's made with Owlowiscious, his birthday greed, the time when he abused Twilight's princess name, how he initially didn't trust Thorax, was afraid of introducing both Thorax and Ember together, and how he instantly puts Sludge's trust over Twilight's. "I just wished I knew what to do, in a situation without Twilight. But I don't, because all I know was being all alone, and just being good at it," Sunset sobbed. "I still have a lot to learn about friendship, because I'm not as lucky as Twilight is, because I never have anyone like you to be my first friend, or an assistant. Because you weren't there, and....and I wished I could get all of that time back! I-I need my friends! I need you Spike!” Sunset sobbed, holding the dragon closer. “I need your help! I need my family!” Feeling his heartstrings pulled by the girl’s sorrow, Spike shed a single tear of understanding as he cried, “Me too.” Then, with that one tear, upon landing on the dark icy floor, the cold evaporated. A single fiery light ignited from Sunset’s heart, as she was surrounded in a warm yellow fiery aura. At the same time, a green light illuminated from Spike’s mouth, before erupting into a great storm of green fire that turned purple, further encasing Sunset in a fiery cocoon. “Sunset?!” Spike called out. Then, a great burst of light, as dazzling as fireworks, Sunset appeared before Spike with great blazing wings and the Fire Of Friendship glowing in her hands, banishing the cold, enveloping the void in a blinding light. This Is Me