One morning at Sweet Apple Acres, the Apple sibs were busy bucking trees to collect apples, “Come on, ya'll, these apples ain't gonna collect themselves ya know.” Applejack told her sibs.
“Applejack, are ya sure it was ok to let Spike handle that whole orchard by himself?” Applebloom asked in concern.
“Don't you worry none, sugarcube. Spike insisted to do it. And trust me when I say, he's gonna be just fine.” Applejack assured her.
“Hey there!” came Spike's voice, as the three saw Spike pulling a whole cart loaded with dozens of bushels of apples over, “I cleared out the one orchard like I said I would.”
Applejack smiled and shook her head in disbelief, while her siblings looked lost for words, “I don't believe it.” Applebloom said in shock.
“Me neither.” Big Mac agreed feeling equally surprised.
“Good work, Spike.” Applejack commended him while rubbing his head, "Though I was concerned you'd buck the trees right out of the ground with that new strength of yours."
"That's why I just flicked the trunks and the apples just fell right down."
“Spike, how in the world did ya manage to clear a whole orchard, so fast, and drag that whole cart here?” Applebloom asked in confusion.
“I'm not the same dragon I once was, Applebloom,” Spike began, “I'm faster and stronger than I've ever been in my life. And I love the feeling.”
“Well, ya just made our work here go faster. Saves us the trouble.” Big Mac admitted.
“No problem. After I put these bushels in the barn, I'll be off, ok?” Spike asked Applejack.
“Sure thing, Spike.” she nodded.
So Spike without much problem hauled the cart of apples to the barn, before flying off for town. As the sibs watched him leave, Applebloom spoke to Applejack, “How can he even fly if he don't have any wings?”
“That's something you'll have to ask Spike.” she replied.
As Spike flew around Ponyville, he looked down at the citizens below going about their daily lives, “Ah, it's so nice to see Ponyville from above on my own for a change, rather than ride on some pony's back.” he told himself.
“Look out below!” came a voice from above.
Spike looked up seeing a bunch of packages falling from above. He extended his right claw out and using the power of the Rooster stopped the packages in mid air holding them in place. Flying down was Derpy and a few more mail carrier pegasi.
“Oh, thank you, Spike.” Derpy said gratefully.
“You saved us from having to explain to the recipients how their packages were damaged.” another pegasi explained.
“Not a problem.” Spike replied, as the pegasi were collecting the goods.
“Though how're you flying up here without wings?” one of the mail delivery ponies asked.
“And how did you keep the packages airborne?” another wondered.
“I'm a new kind of dragon with all sorts of surprises.” Spike answered, as they reloaded the mail wagon with all the packages.
“Well, whatever the case, we appreciate your help.”
“No problem. Catch you later.” Spike flew down.
As Spike landed on the ground he decided to just walk around, while unaware he was being watched by a few pairs of glowing red eyes from the shadows.
“Maybe I should treat myself to a milkshake, or head for the gem cave and harvest me some fresh gems to snack on later.” Spike started debating on what to do, until a voice sang out.
“Oh, Spike!”
Spike stopped in his tracks, before looking back seeing Rarity trotting over, “Oh, boy.” he sighed.
Rarity stopped before him, “And how're you today?”
“I'm fine, thanks for asking.” Spike replied, as he was ready to press on.
“I was wondering if you could spare a moment.”
“For what?” Spike wondered.
“I was on my way to the jewelry store to get some imported gemstones for one of my newest designs, and I could use your keen sense of which is better.” Rarity attempted to sweet talk him.
Spike remembering what he said back at the castle of the two sisters yesterday, answered her, “Sorry, but I pass.”
“Pass?” Rarity asked in confusion.
“Yeah. Sorry.” Spike said, as he was about to leave, only for Rarity to block his path.
“Spike, I noticed a change in your demeanor whenever I've been around you since yesterday. And when you said you wouldn't be coming by the boutique as much now has me concerned. Did I do something wrong?”
Spike rolled his eyes, “Rarity, why do you think I came by your shop at all in the past?”
“Because you love being helpful?” Rarity guessed.
“That's only part of it,” Spike replied, “I really did it because I wanted to be closer to you. It's wasn't because you promised me gems to snack on as a reward or anything. It was all about being close to you. Do you even remember what I tried to tell you that time we were free falling to certain doom? But you stopped me because it looked like you knew?”
Rarity recalled the day Spike was consumed by greed and turned into a giant dragon driven by greed and ended up changing back when he remembered his generous act to Rarity, before they started plummeting. Spike tried to confess to her, but she stopped him and he saw the happy tears in her eyes giving him the hint she knew all along.
“Oh, Spike.” Rarity gasped.
“I wasn't just saying that in the spur of the moment, I actually meant it,” Spike confessed, “But since then all you cared about was using that to your own advantage. You never gave me a real answer or even talked about it. I just realize I've been helping you all for nothing.”
“Spike.” Rarity gasped seeing how hurt he felt.
Spike looked back up before seeing something coming their way, “Look out!” he pushed Rarity down as something almost hit them.
They looked seeing metal throwing stars sticking in the ground, “Where did those come from?” Spike wondered.
Rarity looked up as her eyes widened in horror, “I have a pretty good idea!”
Dropping in from all around were the Shadowkhan armed with more throwing stars, “What are they?” Spike asked.
“I haven't the slightest.” Rarity replied.
The shadowy ninjas continued to surround the two from all sides, before jumping them, “Move!” Spike grabbed Rarity and zipped them both away, causing them to miss. The Shadowkhan using their seeking device tracked the talisman powers from within him, and they made haste.
Spike ran Rarity and himself close to the Everfree Forest, “That was scary.” Rarity admitted.
“I know. Where'd those guys come from anyway?” Spike wondered.
Suddenly the Shadowkhan emerged from the shadows all over the ground making sure to cut off any retreats.
“What do you guys want anyway?” Spike asked in aggravation, but they didn't respond.
“Not very talkative, I see.” Rarity noted.
The Shadowkhan tried to attack Spike with more of their throwing stars, but he flew up and dodged. The shadow minions jumped up high to grab Spike, but he kept flying around avoiding them.
“Leave, Spikey-Wikey alone!” Rarity ordered, as she blasted some with magic causing some to go poof.
“They disappeared.” Spike gasped.
One Shadowkhan threw a bolo at Spike tying his arms and legs together, as the weights from them dragged him back down to the ground.
“Sorry, but this won't hold me.” Spike used his strength to break out of the bolo.
Two Shadowkhan tried to jump him, but Spike activated his invisibility and vanished causing them to miss. Spike appeared behind them, and using his levitation threw the two into a tree making them go poof.
“You guys must really have it out for me, huh?” Spike asked the ninjas, as three more tried to attack Spike.
The dragon fired heat beams out of his eyes destroying the three, “Spike, help!” Rarity called, as he saw the ninjas were surrounding Rarity.
Spike seeing this frowned, before flying right for them tackling the Shadowkhan away before knocking them to the ground. As they got up, Spike stood before them with his right claw out.
“Taste dragon blast!” he announced, as he launched a combustion blast nailing all the Shadowkhan destroying them.
Spike sighed in relief that they were gone, before going over to the fashionable unicorn, “Rarity, are you ok?” what he got was a big hug from Rarity.
“Oh, thank you, Spike! Thank you so much!” she said happily.
“You're welcome.” Spike answered, as he had a faint blush on his face
Rarity let Spike go and spoke up, “Whatever those things were, they seemed to be more focused on you.”
“Yeah. And I can tell why.” Spike replied.
“The talismans?” Rarity asked.
“No doubt. We better go see Twilight.” Spike suggested, as the two headed for the castle.
Later on at the castle, Spike and Rarity were in the library with Twilight telling her everything that happened, “And we came straight here.” Spike finished.
“I'm just glad the both of you are ok.” Twilight said in relief.
“Yes, but we have no clue as to what those creatures were or where they came from.” Rarity said.
“I think I have an idea,” Twilight levitated the archive Celestia and Luna brought with to discuss about the talismans, “I've been looking through this archive and may have found something.”
“What is it?” Spike inquired.
“Based off how you described them, these ninjas are known as Shadowkhan.” Twilight used her magic to project the image of the Shadowkhan in the book as a hologram.
“That's them all right.” Spike confirmed.
“Twilight, what exactly are the Shadowkhan?” Rarity asked.
“Ninjas made from living shadows. They're as deadly as they are sneaky.” she explained.
“But how did they know about the talismans, and what could they need them for?” the dragon asked.
“That's just it. I don't think they wanted them personally.” Twilight replied.
“What do you mean, darling?” Rarity wondered.
“The Shadowkhan are just obedient puppets who follow the will of those who practice the dark arts.”
“But if they're just puppets, then somepony was using them to get to me?” Spike asked.
“That's the way it looks.”
“But who could be using them? And how did they know I had the talismans?”
“I'm not sure, but it's apparent to me they can track your movements,” Twilight said in concern.
“Meaning there's no way to hide Spike from them?” Rarity asked.
“Maybe not, but there may be a way to keep them from coming here,” Twilight explained, as she looked at a page in the archive, “This spell here can make a barrier around the castle keeping the Shadowkhan from entering.”
“Well, at least I know here they won't be able to reach me.” Spike said in relief.
“Even so, we'll need to warn the princesses of this news,” Twilight said, “Whoever did send these Shadowkhan knew about the talismans being found.”
Spike nodded in agreement. Rarity spoke up, “Well, all this excitement has left me bushed, I think I'm going to go home and lay down. Spike would you walk me to the door?” she said signaling him to follow her.
“Sure.” Spike replied, as they left the library.
As they reached the entrance, Rarity stopped to speak, “Spike, I thought about what you said to me, and you're right.”
“Huh?” Spike asked taken aback by her confession.
“I have been exploiting your crush on me for my own benefit. I just got so used to you helping me without being asked before I just accepted it as the norm. And that was unfair to you. I took your services for granted and not realized you had a much deeper reason to wanting to help me. And I made you feel like you were doing it all for nothing. I know I can't take back all the times I've exploited your service, but believe me when I say I am truly very sorry.” Rarity confessed with guilt.
Spike looked at the unicorn he had a crush on for so long, and could tell from the sincerity in her voice she was being honest. Not wanting to push her away, decided to hug her, “I forgive you, Rarity.”
“Really?” Rarity asked in surprise.
“I just can't stay bitter with you. And I know you meant what you said. If you still want me to help out...”
Rarity gently put a hoof to his mouth, and spoke, “I think I've forced you to help me out enough. How about instead of work, you drop by the boutique just to relax and have tea? Nothing business, just strictly social.”
Spike smiled, “I'd love that.”
Rarity smiled, and hugged him again, “And thank you for being my hero more times than I ever knew.” she pecked Spike's cheek making him smile.
As Rarity left the castle Spike continued to smile and thought to himself, 'Looks like we may be getting somewhere after all.'
Meanwhile in the cavern prison, the Shadowkhan stood before their master who had discovered what happened on their search for the talismans. And he did not look happy.
“You mean to tell me my talismans have bonded to an inferior dragon whelp?!” Shendu hissed, “And he defeated all of you?!”
Though the Shadowkhan remained expressionless beneath their masks, they still shook at their masters tone.
Shendu growled, “It seems as though I must take another approach to this matter. Gather me as much information as you can on this dragonling.” the Shadowkhan disappeared into the shadows of the cave.
When the withered dragon was alone, he spoke to himself, “The power of the talismans wasted on the young. Well, enjoy the power while you can, whelp. Because once they're reunited with their true master, I'll show you exactly what they were meant to do.” he hissed.