//------------------------------// // School of Friendship Week Eight: Day One, Losing Magic // Story: Spike the Fairy // by PonyJoel //------------------------------// It's been seven months since Discord disguised himself as Spike after granting his wish. While being disguised as Spike, Discord is getting weaker by the moment. It's slow but, Discord's chaotic nature within him is becoming erratic. He's unable to control it even when his clone is doing the work for him. Spike (Discord) is at the Crystal Empire sleeping, hoping that his dream can be as chaotic as it should be. Unfortunately, that is not the case. His dreams, as of late, are becoming shallow. Princess Luna decides to extend her period of the dream realm to speak with Discord. "Draqonecuus, where are you?" Luna looks around in Discord's dream. It's pitch black except for single candle lit in the center. "I'm here," Discord is sitting by the candle. He looks down as his chaos magic continues to deteriorate. "Are you okay, Discord?" Princess Luna gets closer. "No..," Discord sighs. "I can't keep this up for much longer. I'm starting to become less of myself in this state. If I continue, I can cease to exist." "Perhaps, you should reveal yourself now while you can. Twilight is a new pony and understandable with the lessons she learned from you, 'Spike' and the other instructors of the school." "I don't know. Twilight might freak out and go berzerk with the info of Spike being in another dimension." "Discord, eventually, she's going to find out. Don't you think you should be the one to do so on your accord and not wait for an unprecedented timing?" Discord sighs heavily. "You make a valid point. I miss being me. I miss being myself. I want to create something in my own image." "So, when will you do it?" "Next month when the students have a week off of school. That way, no one would be around if or when Twilight creates a scene." Princess Luna takes a deep breath. "Very well. Know that you have my support. As for Celestia, I made my mistake in telling her. She wants to bring Spike back." "Understood," Discord watches Princess Luna leave the dream realm. Spike (Discord) wakes up to another day. "Monday morning," Spike (Discord) gets up and gets teleported to the school. He doesn't want to say hi to anypony and wants to conserve his focus and energy in the next set of classes. Spike (Discord) enters the school and collapses onto the floor. Twilight sees and rushes to him. "Spike! Are you okay?!" Twilight looks at Spike and feels super worried. "I'm fine. Just feeling different is all," Spike (Discord) said. Twilight helps Spike up and searches for Discord at Starlight's office. Twilight sees Discord looking a bit weak today while Starlight comforts him. "Twilight, what are you doing here?" Starlight asks. "I'm here to bring Spike to Discord so he can heal him. Look like Discord is under the weather too, huh," Twilight answers. "Headmare Glimmer, I need to.., ow!" Sunburst crashes into the door after he fails to open it with his magic. Starlight tries to use her magic to open the door but seems to fail on her. "What? Why isn't my magic working?" Twilight tries using hers, but it short-circuits. She starts to feel weary about her magic not working as it should. Sunburst opens the door and enters. "Starlight. We have a serious situation on our hooves. More than half of the unicorns in my class are losing their magic!" "Trixie has become nervous, Headmare Glimmer. Trixie's magic is failing, and Trixie doesn't know what to do!" Cozy comes flying in. "Headmare Glimmer! I've seen unicorns going stir-crazy due to their magic no longer working all of a sudden. I've watched Rarity crying due to her magic failing on her. She tried using her hooves to straighten her mane after being out of place. She's panicking and crying in the room. What are we going to do?" "This isn't good. This isn't good at all!" Starlight said. "Wait, didn't something eerie similar to this happened not that long ago?" Trixie asks. "Yea. Twilight taught me about the creature that eats magic. Troq, Tire, Tyke..," Cozy loses her train of thought. "Tirek!" Twilight shouts. "Wait, isn't he still imprisoned in Tartarus?" Starlight asks. "I don't know, Starlight." Spike (Discord) starts coughing and manages to burp a letter from Celestia. Spike (Discord) reads the letter. "Twilight. You and your friends are needed at Canterlot for an emergency meeting." "But, I'm still-" Spike (Discord) interrupts Twilight's speech. "Your punishment is uplifted as you and your friends have shown promise throughout the weeks in the School of Friendship. All punishments related are disqualified except for coming close contact with Spike before school starts and after school ends," Spike (Discord) read from the letter. "Alright, I'll see you all later," Twilight hurries to locate her friends and get to Canterlot as fast as they can. "Should we suspend school for the next few days?" Trixie asks. "No! Friendship classes need to continue to show that even in the darkest hour, we can achieve anything," Cozy said. "I'm in no condition to teach, Headmare Glimmer," Spike (Discord) says. "Me neither. I'm too weak to teach my classes," Discord (clone) weakly says. "Alright, we'll continue with teaching our classes without magic," Starlight proclaims. "We'll teach our students that through friendship, nothing is impossible to overcome." "What should the CMC Counselors do, Headmare Glimmer?" Cozy asks. "They should fill in for Spike's and Discord's classes. They've seen first hoof on what goes on. "I want to help and do my part. I know I haven't been attending any classes except for Twilight's tutoring but, I feel that I'm needed here for something important. Twilight taught me something about the power of relics and how to channel magic into them. There's a book about them somewhere in the library. If I can find it, it can help us all if Tirek were to escape Tartarus." "Good thinking, Cozy. Since Twilight trusts you wholeheartedly, I'll allow you to study in the library with Spike's supervision." Spike (Discord) nods. "Of course. I may not be able to teach a class, but helping one student shouldn't be a problem." "Perfect. Discord, take the rest of the day off," Starlight commands. "Of course, Headmare Glimmer," Discord (clone) leaves the school and goes home. The clone goes into Spike (Discord) to give him a bit more power and strength. "Let's start reading," Cozy flies while Spike (Discord) follows her to the library. Two hours later, Twilight Sparkle and her friends return to the school. Twilight and her friends see Starlight Glimmer trotting down the hallway. She sees Twilight. "Twilight, what's happening?" Starlight asks. "It's not just unicorns in the school that's losing magic. It's all of Equestria. Starswirl the Bearded sent a message to Celestia detailing the possible outcome. In three days' time, all magic of Equestria will lose magic forever. On the first day, which is today, unicorn magic and spells will fail. The second day, creatures will lose their magic abilities." "What?!" Starlight shrieks. "And, on the third day when the sun sets, magic artifacts and relics will stop working." "So, how do we fix this?" Starlight asks. "We've been tasked to go to Tartarus and search for Tirek if he'd escaped or not. He may have answers to what's going on." "Alright, thanks for informing me, Twilight." "But," Twilight said. "But what, Twilight?" "We can sure use your help in this, Starlight." "Really?" Starlight is surprised to hear that from Twilight. The girls nod. "We need you, Starlight. You are vital for this mission." "Alright, I'll have Spike take control in my absence. Let me inform him of what's happening and pack my things." "Sure thing. How is he?" Twilight asks. "Better than he was earlier. He and Cozy Glow are looking for relics that'll be useful before their magic expires." "Wow," Twilight is impressed. "Cozy has learned so much with my teachings. She's already one step ahead." "She's a good listener, Twilight," Rainbow said. "She always asks the right kind of questions to you," Said Applejack. "I'm glad I made the right decision. Having Cozy Glow focus on your lectures instead of the other classes is proving to be my best decision yet." "Yea!" Pinkie shouts. "She's always saying that it's her life's purpose to become empowered in friendship to help for the greater cause." Starlight trots to the library. Spike (Discord) and Cozy wrote about relics that can be useful for the time being. Starlight informs Cozy and Spike (Discord) that she'll be going with Twilight Sparkle to Tartarus. She explains the situation clearly to Spike (Discord) and Cozy on what's going on in Equestria. Spike (Discord) understands and takes responsibility as temporary Head-Dragon of the School of Friendship. "Starlight, before you go. You may need to take this relic with you," Cozy gives Starlight the Key of Unfettered Entrance. "Twilight taught me the powers of that relic. Capable of opening any seal once." "Wow!" Starlight's eyes gleam open. "That is thoughtful and helpful. You really know your stuff, Cozy," Starlight smiles. "I'm impressed with her. She's able to find what's helpful and what isn't. Her having that relic in hoof was a surprise when she mentioned it to me a while ago," Spike (Discord) said. "Alright, I'm going with Twilight and her friends to Tartarus. Please inform the teachers what's happening in Equestria for me, Spike," Starlight trots out of the library. "Can do, Headmare Glimmer," Spike (Discord) said. As Cozy Glow watches Starlight Glimmer leave the library. She moves onto her second objective.