Spike screamed as he rocketed to the planet below, barely having the time to close his eyes and cover his head. He smashed through several clouds, shivering at the sudden shower before his body personally met with the ground. His scales protected him as he tore face-first into the ground before finally, his momentum caused him to stop. He groaned and felt pain for the first time in his life, dirt and rocks stuck between his scales and bits of steam were coming off the burned parts of his scales caused by his fall.
“Pain… hurts…” He muttered while stretching and looking around. He tracked his trail and decided to run when some flying ponies began to investigate. They resembled his mother but they were missing her horn. He stopped for a break, even though he just traveled a few feet. “Ugh… why do I feel so weak? I suppose I’ve never really had to run before.”
He sighed and leaned against a tree before something fell and hit him on the head. It was some kind of red ball. He grabbed the ball and looked up to see there were many of them in the tree. He tilted his head and sniffed the ball before biting into it, shocked at the rich juicy taste. He savored each bite and swallowed before reaching for another one when he felt a strange sensation and he pulled back, falling on his rump just as a blast of magic narrowly missed him.
“W-wha?!” He turned to see a light green unicorn with his horn sparking with rose-colored magic. “W-what was that for?!”
“I don't want your kind near my trees now get or I won’t miss!” Spike frowned and went to stand when a pink pegasus fluttered down next to him.
“That’s enough Mister Jack, it’s obvious that this young dragon is just hungry.” The unicorn scoffed and walked towards the pegasus.
“He’s a thief just like you pegasus!”
“Pegasi.”
“Whatever! Just get that monster off my land.” The unicorn grumbled walking back to where he came from as Spike glared at him and accepted the kind hoof that the pegasus offered him.
“I’m sorry about Pepperjack, I know he came off as cruel but I swear he wasn’t like that before… well before all this world cracking accident.” Spike frowned and crossed his arms.
“Wait, so he’s been like this a few minutes?” The pegasus matched his frown and touched a hoof on his forehead.
“You okay? The accident was a week ago.” Spike blinked in shock but realized the problem. His mother had once said something about time and how mortals are affected by it differently than Alicorns and Draconquees.
‘Well, at least I guess I have plenty of time to find the Elements then.’ He shook his head as he realized the pegasus was waiting for some kind of explanation.
“Uhhh right! Right, it was a week ago! I fell asleep right after and it only felt like minutes to me.”
“My mother told me that dragons can sleep for decades so I guess that makes sense but you sure chose the wrong time and place to sleep. Equestria’s ponies have all been getting more and more angry and hateful. I believe it has to do with the world cracking and Crystal Heart being stolen… It seemed to have torn apart part of the creatures that live here.”
“The crystal what?” The pegasus opened her mouth when the echo of a horn made her turn and grimace.
“I have to go… Mister Dragon, I think you may be able to help me convince my mother to listen to reason. She always had great respect for dragons, but umm not right now… would you go to that castle in the distance tonight?” Spike knew he didn’t really have the time for this but the look in her eyes made him reconsider.
“Fine, I’ll be there. Oh, my name is actually Spike, Spike… the Dragon.” The pegasus hovered and smiled.
“I’m Cadence. I’ll have my most trusted unicorn ready there to accompany you.” He smiled and waved as she flew away and he sighed looking around at the vast landscape around him. His mother said this was one of her favorite planets and Spike could see why. This place was free, all kinds of aromas, sights, and creatures littered everywhere. It was beautiful. He felt his heart soar as he looked up and began to follow a singing blue bird before falling right into a lake, a fish jumping out and smacking his face a few times before swimming away. Spike spat out some water and laughed.
“I wonder if mother ever came down here herself… if dad did…” He stood at the thought of his father, he wasn’t here for games. He was trusted with a mission, the first and only one that his father ever gave him and he refused to fail. He supposed that Cadence may be his best lead to finding the element, maybe if he helped her get this heart thing then she could get him the element. “The castle huh? I wonder what she does there.” He began the long trek to the castle his mind wondered.
‘Dad’s magic did this… he caused the ponies to change? He does love his tricks and jokes but he isn’t mean. Mom always said that his father was different when he was young, but since he met her, he’s changed into someone she could love.’ Spike smiled a bit out of pride of who he was. ‘Spike Dracon Solaris, the child of chaos and harmony, grandson of eternity and time, the heir of the universe. All that was expected of me from the moment of my birth. Auntie Luna said I would become the best of us, that I have to become someone who would rule fairly and keep the delicate balance.’
“Back home, I had all the power in the universe. I could do anything and everything was mine yet, here on this tiny speck of a planet I feel more alive than ever before. Why? Is something wrong with me?” Spike sighed and shook his head at those thoughts. He could question himself later, right now he had to get to that castle.
. . .
“FREEZE DRAGON!”
“Dragon? Where?” Spike looked around when he found spears pointed at his throat. “Oh right me… hey I’m just here to talk to Ca-” Spike was cut off when the spears shoved him to the ground. He grunted and smoke began to sprout from his nose as he was getting angry. “Ow! Let me go now!”
“Orders are that all unknown creatures and unicorns are to be captured and taken to Queen Amore. The safety of Canterlot depends on finding the one responsible for the attack on Equis.”
“I didn’t do this! I’m here to help fix it!”
“We’ll need more than a dragon’s word to believe that.”
“Release the dragon!” The guards all looked up and bowed when a purple unicorn appeared. “This dragon is a guest of the Princess and is not to be harmed. You all are lucky I’m in a forgiving mood or you’d be the ones taken to the Queen.” The unicorn stared down at the dragon with an unimpressed gaze before she sighed and used her magic to get him to his feet. “Raise dragon, I’ve been separated from my princess for too long.” Spike rubbed his neck and looked back at the guards with a smug look before he was called again and rushed to the unicorn’s side.
“You said you work for the princess and that I’m her guest. You mean Cadence is-”
“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, daughter of Queen Amore.”
“She didn’t tell that part… I’m Spike, Spike the Dragon. A pleasure to meet you, Miss.”
“Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle. I’m the princess’s lady in waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“I’m not really waiting. It’s just my title. It means I’m her assistant and closest aide.”
“Like a friend.”
“Yes… a friend… We should hurry.” Just as Twilight said that a scream was heard nearby. The two ran towards the sound to find a couple surrounded by black bug pony hybrids that Spike didn’t recognize.
“W-what are those things?!”
“Changelings, they’re shapeshifters so stay with me!” Spike nodded and followed her into rushing the bugs, her using her horn to blast several away from the couple and Spike tackling one before headbutting another that tried to help his comrade.
“What are you waiting for? Run! Find help!” Spike shouted at the couple and they ran, making the bugs hiss and one tried to go after them but Spike grabbed his leg and dragged him back. He swung him around and threw him into another changeling. Twilight was using her magic to blast the rest then struck the floor with a large burst of magic, manipulating the ground to trap them and encase her downed foes. One escaped by rolling at the last second and lunged at Twilight. “Twilight!”
The changeling was smashed into the ground right in front of Twilight when a piano fell from the sky. Twilight and Spike looked up to see a seemingly confused pegasus gazing back at them with crooked eyes.
“Oops… did I do that?”
“Umm don’t worry about it!”
“Thank you Miss Doo.”
“Oh, anytime Miss Twilight ma’am!” The dragon and unicorn actually shared a smile before they heard more shouting. They ran and found a crowd of ponies all staring at the castle with fear. The royal guards were caught in a battle with a swarm of Changelings but they held their own and followed the orders of their captain, even pushing the Changelings back.
“Oh yeah! Get those bugs!” Spike jumped and cheered while Twilight frowned and rubbed her chin.
“This makes no sense, they know they can’t take Canterlot with an attack like this… unless…” Twilight’s eyes widened and she pushed through the crowd with Spike following.
“W-what is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s a distraction! The goal isn’t the city, it’s-” Part of the castle suddenly exploded above and Spike covered Twilight with his body as debris fell on them. They coughed and looked up to see an unconscious Cadence and a stone sphere trapped in the magical hold of the Queen of the Changelings. She looked injured and called her hive to her as they vanished. “NO! Cadence!” Twilight shouted before running into the castle hysterically. Spike stood frozen in place as he realized he had just lost the Element to the hooves of the Changelings.
. . .
“While their losses far outweighed our own and we were even able to capture a few, it seems that they would rather end themselves then go against their Queen. The attack on the city and the castle were a smart distraction as Queen Chrysalis went for the Element of Harmony, but the Princess seemed to stand in her way, anticipating this move. She was captured while I led the guards outside…” Captain Shining Armor finished his report as he bowed his head.
“Where was her lady in waiting?” Queen Amore spoke calmly and with restraint, everypony had done their best but her facade had cracks, evident by the way her hoof shook. Twilight stood nearby with Spike and stepped forward, tears staining her face.
“I wasn’t at my post… The princess asked me to receive this dragon and escort him to the castle… I should have been at her side.”
“You should’ve but none of that matters at the moment, I must now ask how far you are willing to go to make up this mistake?”
“As far as you order, my queen.” Twilight answered with fire in her eyes.
“Young dragon, step forward.” Spike obeyed, stepping before the queen as she studied him with a glare. “Your arrival caused the ponynapping of my daughter, you came to me with a purpose but now I give you a deal. Safely return my daughter and you shall have anything within my power, fail and your body shall become a statue in my gardens for all time.” Spike frowned but nodded.
“I’ll get her back.” He turned and left the throne room, the queen turning to her captain and Twilight.
“You two are to assist him and ensure he can be trusted. Something about him feels… disturbingly familiar…”