//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: The Ultimate Enemy 2: Return of Harmony // by LoganRyder //------------------------------// Spike began to wake up in his room with beads of sweat running down his head. He hyperventilated from what happened in his mind of the soon to be future that would come and began to get up slowly. As he got up, Spike had went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and clean himself. After that, he left the bathroom and got out the castle. "Twilight?" Spike said looking for her (In the Everfree Forest) Dark Spike began to open his eyes and awaken. "Huh? What's going on?" Dark Spike said He looked and saw he was tied to a pole by his arms. He tried to move, but failed. As he struggled, an unknown pony walked up to him. Dark Spike was confused until the pony came closer and he was shocked at who it was. "Starlight?!" Dark Spike said The pink unicorn had an bloody face from her forehead to her nose while her horn was cracked. She placed a hoof on his cheek and said eerily "Sleep.....you cannot beat us. You....are....nothing." Dark Spike only growled out with fury "No!" "Yes......join me...and accept your fate." She then lit her horn up and Dark Spike's vision was consumed with darkness. In the forest at Dark Spike's cave, Dark Spike's eyes opened and he began to slowly get up from his sleep and stretched his arms. He only shook his head and said with expectation "Finally, my time has come." Dark Spike began to shapeshift in green flames to his past self's form and left the cave. As he was walking through the forest, he began to think to himself. "This is it, the time for my future to become an existential reality. When I do so, I'll make sure to erase all of the ponies on this forsaken excuse of a planet, let alone a civilization. After that, I will truly find the happiness and love I want from the world. And l will show the world what happens if they call or treat me like an beast again....But first....I'll need some leverage in case I get backed in a corner." Dark Spike teleported away in green flames. (In Ponyville) Spike began to head to the Castle after failing to find girls outside "Oh man, where are Twilight and the others when I need them?!" Spike said in a desperate tone As he ran, his chest began to pulsate slowly an familiar alicorn shaped amulet an bloody red color. Spike, however did not focus on it and opened the door to Twilight's Castle. He entered and looked around for the girls. He managed to eventually find them in the Cutie Map room, where the girls sat at the thrones with an mysterious book. "Girls!" Spike said The ponies turned and saw Spike at the doorway, sweating in exhaustion from finding them with a familiar book that had looked torn and worn down "Spike?" Twilight asked confused "What's going on?" Spike asked in a hurry The girls turned to him as Twilight replied "I'm glad you asked, do you remember the friendship journal me and the girls had? "Yeah I know about that, but we need to get rid of it!" Spike said This left the girls shocked and confused at his response as Starlight asked "Why Spike? What's the matter?" "That journal was the reason my evil self existed, we have to destroy it and any other copy of it ASAP." Spike said This surprised the girls as Spike breathed in and out, trying to tell them why it had to be destroyed. (In the Crystal Empire) Spike/Dark Spike was in his younger form in the empire. He walked around his way to the Crystal Castle. Some ponies waved to him with admiration, but he ignored them. As soon as the Castle came to view, he went to the entrance guards protecting the door. "Hello." Spike/Dark Spike said to the guards "Hello Spike the Brave and Glorious, what are you doing here?" The first royal guard asked "I'm just here to see Princess Cadance and Prince Armor." Spike/Dark Spike replied The two looked at each other then at the young dragon. The second royal guard asked 'Spike' with a raised eyebrow. "Why? And why did you say their titles? You never do that." The disguised dark dragon gave a look of dismay and said "Sorry, I just wanna show some respect and because I never got to see them or my sweet little nephew Flurry." The two only faced each other then 'Spike' and gave smiles of delight. "Enter." The first royal guard said as they both opened the doors. 'Spike' entered the castle and walked through the large throne room. As he did, he saw the married royal couple on their thrones along with their previous little baby daughter, Flurry Heart. Shining and Cadance had been speaking with each other and took notice of 'Spike' walking to them. "Oh, hello Spike." Cadance said with an smile "What are you doing here?" Shining asked 'Spike' only walked up to them and said "Forgive the intrusion you two, but I need your help. And the other princesses." "What do you mean Spike?" Shining asked "It's that something is wrong with the girls. They've been acting different, especially Twilight and Starlight." 'Spike' said in fake worry and concern "What do you mean by different?" Cadance asked worried. "Twilight shoved me into a bookcase, Applejack lied about needing help, Rainbow Dash pranked me with a cold cloud, Fluttershy sicked her animals on me and Rarity almost KILLED me!!" 'Spike' lied in an tone of dismay and fearful clarification. The two royals only looked at him with shock at his statement. Shining asked in a confused tone. "Spike, are you sure something is wrong?" Cadance asked "Yes! I'm getting worried about the girls and I think they may be in danger! Or at the very least Changelings sent by Chrysalis!" 'Spike' said with fear The two royal ponies only looked at the young dragon and nodded with Cadance saying "Very well Spike." They got up as 'Spike' smiled and said "Oh and do be careful." The two royals nodded as they followed him, unaware his eyes flared blood red. (In Ponyville) Spike had finished telling the girls why they had to destroy the friendship journal. They each had perplexed looks from Spike's claims. "Spike, are you sure about this?" Rainbow Dash said "I know it is! You need to trust me!" Spike said with hurry Applejack went to him and looked at his face, which sweated with stress and fear and said "He's not lying. Yet I don't know if he's right." "How can the friendshio journal cause your evil self to exist?" Fluttershy asked "After he fused with Alicorn Amulet, it made him snap from how you each hurt him both physically and mentally, along with how you never mentioned him at all." Spike further clarified "Spike, no offense but I highly doubt it was our friendship journal." Pinkie refuted "I'm telling you the truth! Why won't you believe me?!" Spike yelled in annoyed dismay "Spike, calm down!" Starlight said, trying to calm him from his stressful state. "I will if you'd all listen to me!" Spike shouted As they argued, the doors opened and Shining and Cadance had arrived. This got the girls and Spike attention's as they turned to them. "Princess Cadance and Prince Shining?" Rarity said "What are you two doing here?" Twilight asked "Don't play dumb Changeling!" Shining angrily replied "We know Chrysalis sent you!" Cadance added in distrust This surprised the girls and Spike, who quickly noticed an familiar figure holding an sleeping Flurry Heart. (Outside) 'Spike' was holding Flurry Heart in his hands and began to leave the area. "Now that phase 1 is complete, time for phase 2." 'Spike'/Dark Spike said with an smile He teleported away in dark green flames, unaware he was spotted by his younger self.