//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Rizen // by Madgod Vatuu //------------------------------// Chapter 2 “Change is the only constant in life. One’s ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.” -Benjamin Franklin The dragon’s eyes opened as he let out a groan feeling in pain. “Argh, Twilight wh-huh?!” Spike slowly stood, eyes gradually adjusting after his momentary nap. However, once his sight returned, he was left stunned and afraid at what he saw.  He saw his claw which was almost like a paw, his scales were now purple fur and his claws were replaced with fingers.  “This…this can’t be real. Just gotta wake myself up.” He quickly shook his head as hard as he could, hoping to jolt himself awake. As he shook something fell into his face. It felt, oddly soft..almost like a mane.. Spike started to breathe heavily as he noticed a mirror on top of a nearby dresser. His body immediately sprinted and climbed up the tall piece of furniture until his upper body was lifted above the top. A single glance was all he needed before gasping and nearly losing his grip. In place of his normal green spikes, he had long mane that reached to his back. Where once he had almost armored scales, now his body was covered in soft fur matching his previous color scheme. Oddly enough his face remained more or less unchanged, though that in turn caused him to briefly glance at the medallion hanging around his neck. “What even am I?” Spike muttered while returning back down, staring again at his transformed…paws, hands, what was he even supposed to call them now?  He shook his head, already beginning to panic. Looking for some kind of a distraction, he finally became aware of his surroundings. He wasn’t in the Golden Oaks Library or even Ponyville for that matter, however he did know exactly where he was regardless..  Somehow, he was currently in one of Canterlot Castle’s guest rooms. “Canterlot? How did I get here? Why am I here? And where’s Twilight!?” He said as he took one step hearing a loud crack.  The young dragon barely looked down at his feet before the floor collapsed. All Spike could do was scream as he fell for several seconds before landing hard on some of the fallen debris. Though the fall stung a bit, Spike was unharmed..physically anyway. The child’s eyes were darting in every direction with his heart pounding with each step he took. At the rate things were going, he was liable to have a panic attack. Thankfully, fate decided to be merciful as something seemed to grab his attention with the torches in the area being  lit for some reason.  Maybe somepony was here who could help him? “H-hello?” Spike called out with his voice cracking, as he slowly walked forward. With each pace the room started to grow brighter. The startled dragon carry on into the dark room, proceeding deeper till nearly ever square inch of the room was bathed in light.  Spike froze, seeing the small room had a stand to what looked like a black tunic with white baggy pants. The boots, glove,and hat were placed beneath it. Looking closer, Spike also found an array of weapons from swords, axes and even crossbows in racks on the nearby walls.  “What is this place?” Spike muttered. He advanced forward, eyeing a crystal in front of him. Spike’s stomach immediately growled upon seeing it. Part of him wanted to simply ignore it, all the comics he’d read screamed not to touch it. Yet, his growling stomach outmatched his mind and reached out. However, as his hand was about to touch it, Spike let out a scream falling back at the sight of a stranger appearing from the crystal.  The strange figure seemingly   manifested from the crystal’s light. Spike’s eyes widened as the image became gradually clearer until finally he could make it out.  It was…like him. He had fur, fingers and a mane, though his color scheme was different, being more a mixture of orange and blue. Thankfully for Spike he didn’t seem hostile. “Hello, my name is Alistar Wilhelm. If you are seeing this….” WIlhelm froze for a bit until looking straight again. “It means that your realm is in danger. The gear and clothing you found  were once mine, though sadly I am no longer here to use them. These are the only things that can save your realm from the coming disaster. Please, take them and use them to protect the world that I had come to love as much as I know you do now.”  The crystal’s light vanished, leaving Spike with more than a few questions. What was that creature? Was that some kind of warning? How long ago was it made?  Those and other questions were put aside as he looked to the aforementioned gear. “Okay, this whole situation is getting way out of hand. I should just find Twilight and hopefully she can figure this out.” However, his feet refused to move as he took another glance at the crystal. “But, he said the world was in danger and this stuff was the only way to save it.” He debated again, feeling his head start to hurt as he mentally weighed his options.  “I mean, it won’t hurt if I try it on right?” Deciding to take the chance, Spike quickly put on the armor, surprisingly finding no issue despite what should’ve been a noticeable size difference..  Spike gazed at himself from the broken mirror from within. He felt…odd wearing it. Who was that creature,This Alistar Wilhelm. The name certainly didn’t sound like any he’d heard before. Was Spike like him now? This was all too much for him to deal with. The sound of voices in the distance broke his concentration, prompting him to hide behind a nearby chest and peak out enough to see.  Two large figures stepped into the room, revealing them to be the princesses. “It’s Princess Celestia and Luna!” Spike jumped in joy, running towards them at the moment. However, his movement was halted as his body was lifted from the ground, coated in the familiar aura of Celestia’s magic, before he found himself slammed against a nearby wall. “Who are you and how did you get into this castle,” Celestia belt out, eyes glaring dangerously at the transformed dragon. “Sister stop!” Luna galloped towards her shoving her back which broke her concentration. She quickly flew towards Spike, eyeing him cautiously. Luna took one look at Spike’s attire during the time she gazed at his clothes. “Where did you get this?” She asked Spike who was petrified from Celestia’s outburst. Luna’s eyes softened somewhat as she saw his fear. “I-I’m sorry to frighten you young Spike. Your appearance caught us by surprise and that attire belonged to a good friend of ours.” Spike’s eyes again drifted to the crystal and the pieces started to fit together. “You mean Alistar WIlhelm?” Luna’s eyes widened when he said his name. “How did you know that name, dear Spike?” Luna questions him while Spike moved towards the crystal and touched it again. The figure appeared again as both Princesses gasp. “Alistar?” Luna's voice cracked as she approached the figure. Her eyes scanned Alistar with tears dripping down her face. It means that your realm is in danger. This gear and clothing you found were once mine, though sadly I am no longer here to use them. These are the only things that can save your realm from the coming disaster. Please, take them and use them to protect the world that I had come to love as much as I know you do now. While Alistar vanished Luna looked at Celestia. “Tia, He never had that many scars when I last saw him.  How long ago was that image?” Celestia stepped forward as she clears her throat clearly out what tears that she choking on. “W-with the way he was dressed,and looked. That was about maybe 200 years ago. Exactly the last time I saw him.”  “A time after my banishment.” That answered one question, but left them with another issue. Namely the confused child standing just next to them. “Princess, what am I? I have fur and a mane like your friend. Dragon’s don’t have that!” Spike started to panic, unable to calm down. “Spike.” “What will the girls think? What will Ponyvile think! Even the Crystal Empire wouldn’t think I’m me!” Quickly, Luna draped her wings around him, calming him down. “Spike, I understand your confusion. We will do our best to answer your questions.” “Then what am I?” Celestia finally decided to speak again and answer the question. “You are a kobold.” Spike’s ears perk up. “A what?” “A kobold, Spike, your current  race is not native to Equestria. WIlhelm told us that your race is from another world called Obelisk. A land that cannot be reached, even through our magical means.” Spike reached his pocket pulling out a small paper revealing the dragon code he had. “So I wasn’t a dragon?” Spike said, tearing it up. “Spike.” Luna felt sorry for the child. “So what am I now? Spike the Kobold? I’m just supposed to accept this and move on?” Spike said, unable to hold in his tears. “Before we can do anything we must inform Twilight.” Spike’s eyes widen from the mere mention of her name. “N-no! Anypony but her!” “Spike, she's been worried ever since you arrived in Canterlot.” Celestia noted Spike who looked more afraid. “I know! Twilight gets super protective of me! I even get nightmares.” Spike’s eyes again turned to his reflection, flinching at the stranger that looked back. “But I just can’t let her see me like this, not yet.” Celestia looked at Luna who nodded. “The young dragon speaks the truth dear sister. Perhaps if thou brings him to the cause of this mishap, we may uncover more.”  “Luna, you wish for Spike to return to the temple?” “Yes dear sister. If thou give us permission to?” Spike waited as he realized that WIlhelm’s sword was near the clothing. He quickly bolted to the stand at the moment Luna turned around, watching him closely. “Spike, given the situation we will allow you to hold onto those weapons. However, please be careful and only use it in an emergency. It is very dangerous.” “Right!” Spike placed the strap sheath on with the sword within it. He quickly followed with the crossbow, mounting it on his back. Though as he went to grab it, he noticed the strange metal pipes on the front of the weapon. “What are these?” Celestia gasped as she levitated Spike to Luna’s back, who in turn wrapped her own aura around the weapon. “Do not touch those Spike! Those weapons are beyond dangerous!” Celestia warned him with even Luna shocked from her outburst. “Do not touch them unless it is absolutely necessary understand?” Spike could only nod slowly, terrified of setting off the Princess again. “Then we should be off!” Luna took off to the air not wanting this to be even more awkward. leaving Celestia alone. “Why? Why must this monstrous instrument be here!” She showed her disdain for them as she and her sister took off. ******* In Ponyville Twilight  was on the balcony in the Golden Oaks Library. Unable to calm down upon hearing that Spike was hurt.  “Spike please be safe.” Twilight muttered while watching the castle from afar, unaware of the events that had already been set in motion.