//------------------------------// // Half & Half // Story: Spike of the Talismans // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// At Twilight's castle, Spike was zipping around from every room in the castle looking for something. He stopped in the lounge room and started looking under the sofa cushions, “Where is it? Where is it?” he looked under one of the arm chairs, “I had to have put that issue of the Power Ponies around here. I know it. Ugh!” he groaned, “Wish my talismans could help me locate things.” As Spike looked underneath a table he was blasted with confetti which blew him back and startled him. Reflecting off his eye was the image of the Tiger Talisman that suddenly broke in half. Spike got up and groaned before looking over and saw a party cannon was underneath the table. The little dragon growled and spoke angrily, “Pinkie, leaving her party cannons around?! I thought she said she found all of them!” he dusted the confetti off his body before turning around and came face to face with himself. “Whoa!” Spike jumped back, before he and his reflection got up and looked confused, “When did a mirror get set up right here?” he asked with his reflection mimicking him. He and his reflection shrugged, as he walked away. But as Spike walked away, his 'reflection' actually walked out of the room. The reflection spoke, “Pinkie really should've cleaned up all her party cannons, that could really give somepony a heart attack.” he said in worry, before going into another room. He entered and saw Twilight looking over something in a book before spotting him, “Oh, Spike. There you are. I wanted to ask you about something.” “I'm sorry if I rearranged any of your books, Twilight,” he spoke up frantically, “I was just looking for my last Power Ponies comic. But I made sure to put them all back in the right order. Did I? I didn't?! Oh, I'm sorry I messed up!” he cried. Twilight looking concerned went over to Spike and held him close, “Take it easy, Spike. They're all in their respective order.” “Oh, thank goodness.” Spike said in relief. “Spike, are you feeling ok?” Twilight asked curiously. “Why, is there something wrong with me?” he asked in worry. “You're acting more shy and nervous than Fluttershy.” “I am? And is that bad?” “I'm... not sure.” Twilight said unsure how to take this behavior. Meanwhile back in the lounge room, 'Spike' was tearing the place up and making a mess, “Oh, come on! How hard is it to find one simple comic?!” he grumbled, while crossing his arms. The doors opened and walking in were the rest of the girls, “Hey, Spike!” Pinkie cheered, while carrying a tray of cupcakes. Rarity looked around the room and gasped at the mess, “Gracious heavens!” “What's going on in here, Spike?” Applejack asked. “What's going on?” Spike asked, as he zipped over and got in the cowgirl's face, “I'll tell you what's going on. I'm trying to find one of my missing comics, and so far nothing!” he snapped, as the girls were taken aback by his outburst. “Sorry I asked.” Applejack said feeling stunned by Spike snapping. “And another thing, Pinkie!” Spike turned towards Pinkie, “I thought you said you found all your hidden party cannons and removed them!” “Must've missed one. My bad.” Pinkie said sheepishly. “It nearly gave me a heart attack!” “Whoa, Spike, take it easy.” Rainbow calmed him. “I know it couldn't have been pleasant to get a jump scare from one of Pinkie's Party Cannons, but don't you think this is a bit overreacting?” Fluttershy asked. “I'm overreacting?” Spike asked, “What about you always getting frightened over every solitary thing?” “Um, well...” Fluttershy tried to answer, but ended up whimpering knowing it was true. “Spike, what's gotten into ya?” Applejack demanded. “Yes, where is this rudeness coming from?” Rarity asked equally surprised. “I'm just in a rude mood today, sweetheart.” Spike said slyly, before grabbing the cupcake tray from Pinkie, and poured them all down his mouth eating them whole. “Hey, those were meant for every pony!” Pinkie protested. “Well, now they're mine,” Spike answered, before belching, “Later!” he zipped off. The girls stood in shock and silence, until Rainbow broke the ice, “What just happened?” “Was that really Spike?” Fluttershy wondered. “Purple scales, green spines, cute squishable face, that sounds like Spike.” Pinkie deduced. “But he sure wasn't acting like the Spike we know.” Rarity noted. “Haven't seen him that angry since that day he found the talismans.” Applejack recalled. Then Twilight entered with Spike, “Hey, girls... What happened in here?!” she gasped at the mess. “Ask Spike.” Applejack motioned to Spike. “Spike?” Twilight asked him. “I didn't do this, I was with you.” Spike said in defense. “What're you talking about?” Rainbow asked, flying up to him, “We all saw you tearing this room apart looking for your comic. And what's up with the attitude, you got a problem with us today?!” Spike's eyes widened in fear as he hid behind Twilight, “No! I don't have a problem with anyone, please don't be mad at me!” he cried. This reaction out of Spike once again left the girls confused, “And I thought I was easily scared.” Fluttershy admitted. “Girls, what's going on?” Twilight asked. “Spike was acting all rude to us moments ago.” Rarity noted. “How could he when he's been with me?” Twilight asked, before motioning to Spike who smiled nervously, “Besides, does this look like somepony being rude to you?” “This don't make a lick of sense.” Applejack said in confusion. Before they could try and figure it out, they heard a crashing sound nearby, “What the?” Twilight asked, as they headed headed for the source. They went to the room Twilight and Spike were last in and to every pony's shock, saw Spike had torn the place up just like he did in the lounge. “Spike?!” they gasped. Spike looked back at him squinting, “What?” They looked back down seeing Spike at their side all nervous, “Spike?!” They looked back and forth at the two Spike's, until Applejack spoke, “Am I seein' double here?” The two Spike's went to each other and moved mimicking each other, until they felt each other's spines and jumped back in shock. “You're not my reflection!” they said simultaneously. “Wow, stereo.” Pinkie gasped. “Where did this other Spike come from?” Rarity wondered. “And which one is ours.” Fluttershy asked. “I am!” the two dragons answered together before looking at each other, “No, I am!” Twilight between the two Spike's at their distinct behaviors before gasping, “Wait a minute, I know what's going on. Be right back!” she flew off. Twilight quickly came back carrying the book on Shendu and the talismans, “I thought this reminded me of something, and I was right.” “What do you mean, Twilight?” Rarity wondered. “Yeah, what's wrong with Spike?” Rainbow asked. “And which one is the real one?” Pinkie asked. “They both are.” Twilight answered. “Huh?” they asked. Twilight opened the book and magically projected an image of the talisman that had the image of two tigers facing opposite ends. “The Tiger talisman,” she began, “It has the power to locate and reunite divided pieces of an object. But it's chief power is far more dangerous. It possess the power of spiritual balance. But if that balance is interrupted it splits the one in possession of it into two. One embodying the light side, and the other embodying the dark side.” she motioned to the two Spike's individually. “You mean to say this one Spike is evil?” Pinkie motioned to the rude Spike who frowned at her. “Not so much evil. Just embodies all of Spike's badder qualities, while this one represents all of his better qualities.” “So that's why they're both our Spike?” Applejack asked. Dark Spike scoffed, “I'm nothing like this wimp.” he finger motioned to Light Spike who gasped. “You are not very nice!” “I know.” Dark Spike said smugly. “What I don't understand is how did this happen?” Twilight wondered. Pinkie spoke up sheepishly, “Spike may have been startled by one of my misplaced party cannons here. Oopsie.” she grinned nervously. “Is there any way to make them one Spike again?” Rarity asked hopefully. “Yes, the two Spike's must join together again.” Twilight answered. “Great!” Light Spike cheered. “Pass.” Dark Spike replied aloof. “Pass?” the girls asked. “Why would I wanna rejoin with a doormat and a wuss like this guy?” “Same as I wouldn't wanna be together with a rude dragon like you!” Light Spike protested. “Finally, something we agree on!” “Enough!” Twilight broke them up, “You are both part of one Spike, and we need both of you to rejoin.” “Some other time,” Dark Spike said, “You know, I'm in a hoarding mood. Wonder what kind of stuff in Ponyville I can take.” he grinned. Twilight realizing what this was going to cause spoke to the girls, “Don't let him out!” The girls tried to block Dark Spike who scoffed, “Please.” he dashed past them. “This is bad!” Twilight gasped, “If he goes on a hoarding spree his dragon greed will kick in, and you know what that'll do.” The girls and Light Spike got scared imagining a giant greedy Dark Spike in Ponyville, “We have to stop him before that happens.” Rainbow suggested. “Right. Come on!” Twilight said, as the group hurried out of the castle and headed towards town, unaware of a single Shadowkhan watching them from the shadows before vanishing. At Shendu's cave prison the dragon had learned from what his Shadowkhan had witnessed. The dragon laughed amusingly, “So the whelp has split himself into two from the Tiger. Not only are both his light and dark separated, but upon doing so the talismans themselves have been split making them only at half strength. It'll be much easier to take them. However given the poor performance of my minions, I should take precaution and use a different type.” The ninja Shadowkhan disappeared, and suddenly rising up from the shadows were new Shadowkhan. These new ones were tall and had pointed heads with one glowing, red eye. They wore black suits with dark red accents that covered their whole body. They had dark red belts and brown ropes covering their forearms and hands. Instead of fingers, they had five, giant, razor-sharp claws, and their legs were also pointed. “Go forth, and fetch me the two halves of the dragonling who possesses my talismans!” he ordered, as the sharp looking Shadowkhan took off.