Time Stops For No Dragon
Started on 4-28-14 (Book Three of the Undestined Hero Trilogy)
Prologue-The Return Of Darkness
In the year that followed Discord's defeat, there was peace.
Spike's relationship with Fluttershy was still going strong, and he had recently moved in with her. They were happy with taking it slow, enjoying the simpleness of being together. Rainbow Dash had joined the 'Wonderbolts', Rarity still made dresses, Pinkie Pie was still partying, Applejack still managed her apples, and Twilight was a professor at 'Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns'. Spike was happy for his friends, but he missed seeing them so often. Fluttershy had been acting weirdly lately, though. She wasn't as happy, as she used to be. She had been grumpy and not so sweet, the past few days. Her coltfriend thought that it might be that time of the month, but he didn't DARE tell her that.
Spike woke up in the spare bed in Fluttershy's room. Fluttershy was too shy and they weren't ready to sleep in the same bed yet, so he used the guest bed. It was an early winter morning and a chilly breeze blew in through the window, as a reminder. Spike winced a little, as his feet touched the cold floor, padding over to the window to shut it. After closing it, he turned to look at her bed, only to find that it was made, and no Fluttershy was in it. Spike put on his fuzzy white bunny slippers to protect him from the cold, if only just a little.
He made his way downstairs, hoping that his marefriend was in a better mood. Her back was to him, as he entered the living room, working on preparing breakfast.
She seemed to sense that he had come in behind her and told him without turning around, "Spike, dear, would you light the fireplace?"
Spike blinked in surprise. "Sure, no problem."
The dragon walked over to the fireplace that was already filled with logs and lit it with a fireball, filling the room with warmth. A blast of cold air suddenly sent a shiver down his spine, despite no windows being open. Spike turned around to see Fluttershy behind him, shooting him an icy glare. He gasped at her appearance, which had changed since yesterday. Her mane was disheveled, she had dark bags under her eyes, and her pupils were tinted a shade of red, instead of their usual teal.
"Thank you. Now, get out."
Spike tried to think of anything he had done to bring about this sudden hate, but couldn't find a reason for it. "But…I…"
"No buts. I told you to get out of my house, so leave and don't come back!" The pegasus then, back-hoofed Spike across the face, sending him to the floor.
He touched the red hoof-shaped print on his cheek in shock, looking up at her with hurt in his gaze. "Fl-Fluttershy…why?" Spike stuttered, horrified at her command. "Look. Whatever I did, I'm sorry. I'm SO sorry. If you're kicking me out, at least give me a reason why." Spike pleaded, figuring she owed him at least THAT much.
"Do I really need a reason? I don't like you anymore, so I'm ending the relationship. Consider yourself dumped, Chump." Fluttershy fixed him with the 'Stare', and it was somehow amplified by her current state.
Spike scrambled backwards, but was finding it harder to move. He got to his feet and looked down, immediately wishing he hadn't. A layer of stone was covering his left leg, ascending to the rest of his body. She was somehow turning him to stone with her gaze, like a 'Cockatrice'. He looked away from her and stomped his feet, successfully shaking off the layer of stone, while dashing out the door of the cottage without looking back. He slowed down, only when he reached the dirt road leading to Ponyville.
Spike wasn't sure what to make of the events that had just transpired, but he knew one thing. The Fluttershy he knew was long gone, and left behind, was a monster that still looked the same, while using her voice. Spike shivered in the air, as even dragons could only survive the cold for so long, before freezing to death. He sniffled a little, both from the weather and his sadness. Spike remembered a promise that Fluttershy had made to him, after Discord's attack.
"I can't promise that everything will be all right, but I would NEVER betray you or hurt you." Her words echoed in his mind, a bitter reminder that she had just broken the promise.
"I have to go see Twilight. I'm moving back in." He had just lost a place to stay and his marefriend in one day, but it was still morning.
Spike sighed, letting out a cloud of smoke.
"How do I get myself into these situations?"