Spike leaves the Library again, completely focused on looking for Zecora to help him. The ghost hasn't got the same opinion as him.
"We can't go to Everfree Forest again."
"Why?" he asks.
"It's dangerous, specially with the book. You'll only find figures made of sorrow.
"Figures made of sorrow." That description makes Spike think, what does he mean with "sorrow"? Will Rarity, the unrequited love of his life, appear during the journey, or maybe an angry Twilight will spawn only to argue with him? He is scared of what kind of things may appear. However, he knows that this adventure hasn't got a backdoor, and he must continue his journey. He decides not to follow the ghost's advice and enters to Everfree Forest.
Minutes later, Spike and the book arrive to the baleful forest. The dragon looks the aspect of the woods: It has the same facet of everyday. In spite of the outside aspect, the Forest has a completely different persepective from inside. Everything is covered with a grey, hot and sticky steam. The characteristic old trees are completely wet. There is a liquid coming out of them. Spike touches it, and feels fire coming out of his fingers.
"Ouch! I felt my fingers burning!"
"I told you not to come here with me, because you'll only find personified sorrow... Furthermore, that hot liquid represents love, an unrequited one... We should have stayed in Ponyville.
"Love?"
"Yes, Spike. Love is invading you. You should let it go."
The ghost is helping Spike escape from the liquid. Is Spike getting over Rarity?
"Now, it's too late... We will keep moving... until we find Zecora."
"If we don't find a way to kill this curse, we will never find Zecora's house.
This phrase makes Spike desperated. The liquid starts leaking faster and covers the dirty ground, touching Spike's feet. The dragon feels he is on a volcano. His feet are burning for real.
"Ouch! My feet! My feet!"
"Open me! Open me!
Spike opens the book and the liquid stops leaking, causing the steam's disappearance. Spike is surprised.
"My love! It disappeared!"
"No. We are not safe yet, Spike. It's love! It won't go so easily!"
Spike keeps walking slowly. Zecora's house is not so far from them. But still, the ghost is worried. He feels that the "lovely" steam is still there, waiting for the perfect moment to attack them. Spike has also the same feeling, but he's more focused on that strange drawings of Pinkie Pie that appear in the book. That means this book was written in a recent time. Was it?
"Ghost, can I ask you a question?"
"What?"
"Do you know when this book was made?"
It's a strange question for the ghost with no name. He doesn't even know when the book was invented, and feels ashamed because of that. He doesn't answer.
"Ghost..."
"No idea."
Suddenly, a box full of jewels appears in front of Spike. Spike looks at them... He loves eating jewels. The ghost instantly knows it's a trap.
"Mmmm... yummy! I've been totally hungry for hours!"
"NO, SPIKE! IT'S A TRAP!"
Spike eats one of the jewels and the Forest automatically turns into a spa. White walls made with quartz rise from the floor. Spike is automatically reclined on a bed, with pickles on his eyes and a towel covering him. The book is being trapped by rusty chains.
"Spike, no! Stop! They are going to kill you from your inside!
Spike is in his world. By surprise, a hologramic Rarity appears behind Spike.
"Spikey Wikey... How are you doing, my darling?
Spike smiles at her. "I'm fine... b-because you are here."
The hologramic Rarity smiles at him, blushing. "Let me massage you, Spikey."
"No! They are going to drain you! SPIKE!"
The hologram starts touching Spike's back, but then he jumps and attacks the hologramic Rarity. The spa turns into dust and disappears, along the jewel box and the rusty chains. However, it doesn't mean the steam disappeared. It's still there... but no one can see it. Spike grabs the book and runs away from the toxic steam.
"How did you know that the spa was fake... if you didn't hear me?
"Rarity would never massage my back. She just wouldn't."
"Oh, I see. Rarity... I know that name...It seems to be pretty..."
"Yes, she is. The prettiest mare of Equestria..."
Suddenly, Spike is thrown to the ground by an incredible force.
"I'm feeling terrible... You... You won't touch her...YOU WON'T!"
Spike is lifted by the book's force.
"ONLY ONE OF US WILL CONQUER HER, DRAGON! FIGHT!... " Spike, I need your help, the book is possessed!"
The book opens in the first page. From the "Unknown" text comes out a dragon hand. He touches the ground and changes the Forest's ground into black.
"What?" shouts Spike.
"Spike! Destroy it!"
The dragon comes out of the book. It's a red-eyed Spike. He looks at the Ponyville dragon with anger, and opens his mouth to reveal teeth covered in blood.
"You are commiting a mistake, dragon."
The evil dragon lifts Spike. He has an indescribable force, Spike fells his chest coming out of his body.
"Your only mistake here is Twilight. You should have destroyed her from the beginning. She tastes better than jewels.
Spike is completely frightened... Did he say... Tastes?
" I... Um... won't e-eat her..."
The evil dragon magically opens a hole in the ground. He throws Spike on it.
"NO!"
The red-eyed Spike creates a portal to Ponyville and runs away.
"No... I have to do something... The fifth page.
The book automatically opens and turns into the fifth page. There's a text that reads.
"One day the portals will exist.
When I imagine those magical doors covering Ponyville I imagine peace. I'd visit princesses, magicians with no necessity of coming out of my house.
P. S. If I can't sacrifice a princess, can I sacrifice a dragon?
...
Warning!
Magically, the ghost opens a portal to Zecora's house and enters.
"Hello? Has someone answered the door?" says Zecora, while he notices the portal dying in her house.
"I require your help, lady Zecora...
Zecora finds the book. She knows it. She remembers the legend of the Book's cursed ghost. Who will be his next victim?
"The Cursed Ghost. I know you very well and I don't want you to be my host."
"Lady Zecora, a friend of us is in danger. Ponyville is in danger!
Zecora ignores the ghost. Suddenly, he opens the book and a crystal ball comes out of it. The ball shows Rarity's house.
"Oh darling, Twilight told me that you were lost in the Forest. Is that true?
"Yes, Rarity."
The zebra observes Spike's eyes. They are red. Red like blood, like flesh... It's an evil look. That dragon isn't Spike.
"Is Spike in danger?"
"Yes, lady Zecora..."
Zecora nods her head and grabs the book. Will they save our favourite dragon from the mysterious hole?
To be continued...