//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Oppression // Story: Scales of fire // by undead carrot //------------------------------// The night was still and silent, even lacking the chirping of crickets. It was as if time itself had stopped. The one thing however that broke this illusion was the thunderous snores piercing the silence from the small purple dragon that lay motionless in his basket at the foot of Twilights bed. He had been sleeping loudly for only five minutes before a dim white light began to shine around the side of his body. Letting off this light were thin smoky luminescent tendrils that began to creep over his small scaly body, crawling over his blanket and basket like a series of snakes', they soon slowed down to a snail’s pace as they narrowed in on his mouth and began slowly seeping in at an even slower speed. It took about ten minutes for the smoke to disappear entirely into Spikes mouth before his mouth shut silencing his snoring sending his breaths down to a more subtle and quiet tone. Meanwhile in Spikes mind he had not even began to dream yet, he was in the peaceful eventless space before dreams would come to take him away. But this night would be different. Rather than appearing in the middle of an event in his sleep like usual he felt himself being slowly eased into what felt like a soft and warm breeze. All he could see was blackness, but he could hear a faint whisper in a dialect that felt somewhat familiar to him yet at the same time completely foreign to him. “Umm… hello?” Spike said out to the darkness that replied with a very deep and very ancient voice. “Greetings young Dragon.” It said nothing else. Soon the darkness began to brighten as the white mist began to reveal itself taking no form in particular. “Ok this is by far one of the strangest dreams I’ve had in a long time… not the weirdest but it’s definitely up there!” Spike said to himself staring at the bright mist. “I can assure that this is not a dream, although you are still sleeping you are yet to begin dreaming.” Spike just stood still in his confusion trying to think of something to say about his current situation. “You are still not convinced?” The question seemed to leave spike unfazed. “Is this Princess Luna? What’s going on? I’m really confused right now.” Spike said becoming a little flustered. “Ah yes Luna, I remember her. No I am not, she cannot reach you here because you are not yet dreaming, and do not worry I will not be intruding on your dreams for this is being done in real time and will be remembered far more vividly when you awaken.” Spike shifted his head sideways. “How can I know this isn’t a dream? I’ve had some strange dreams before so you must understand why I’m feeling a little unconvinced right now?” Spike pointed out sounding completely unfazed. “I do have a way of proving this young Dragon but I would much proffer not to. Although your reasoning makes perfect sense I was hoping that we could base this off simple trust.” Spike frowned a little. “No thanks I’d like proof. I’ve done enough weird things in Ponyville so the last thing I need to do is run around telling everypony that my dreams are becoming sentient when even I don’t know if it’s true!” Spike said in one long breath. “I would really proffer not to. But there is wisdom behind your words. Very well then, prepare young dragon this will cause immense pain.” This news caused spikes eyes to widen suddenly. “Wait wha…” Spike stopped suddenly feeling the pain he was told he would feel. It was so intense it made him feel like he had been hit in the head by rocket launcher, that had refused to kill him but only leave his head in small throbbing pieces scattered about the floor. Spike stumbled around in the black world in front of the glowing mist. The only thing he could do was fumble around as a ringing sound overpowered his senses and a blur scratched the vision from his eyes. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t scream, all he could do was stumble and suffer. When all the noise and pain finally dissipated he let out a loud scream as he slammed his claws to his ears kneeling down in front of the mist. “I am sorry young Dragon but I do trust that you believe me when I tell you that you are not dreaming now?” It took a while but Spike finally managed to stand himself back up. Wobbling he looked back at the mist with a very angry expression second only to the infamous stare of Fluttershy. “There must be a softer way of proving yourself than that!” Spike growled clenching his teeth as hard as possible. “None that I am currently aware of. I do not commit sleep magic so this concept is somewhat alien to me. I study cold magic involving wind and ice. My name is Duratus son of Lord Cupitor, now may I ask you of your name young Dragon?” Said the ancient voice softly. “Spike son of… well umm… Princess Twilight Sparkle I guess? What are you?” Spike asked calmly. “I know they call you Spike young Dragon but that is not your name. What is the name you have chosen for yourself?” Asked Duratus. “I don’t have a chosen name, I just always called myself Spike, and there would be no point in picking a different name when everyone else knows me as Spike? But you didn’t answer my question, what are you?” Questioned Spike pondering the redundancy of having two names. “Tell me young Dragon before I answer your question where and how was your egg hatched?” Spike was beginning to grow suspicious by this point. “In Canterlot by Twilight, they used my egg as a test to see if Twilight was legible of enrolling in Celestias School for Gifted Unicorns. She passed obviously, she is really good at magic.” Spike said proudly. “Interesting, This Twilight must hold massive quantities of magical power to hatch a Dragon egg and if my scans are correct that only makes her even more impressive!” Spike crossed his arms missing what Duratus mumbled. “Ok now it’s your turn, what are you?” He said pointing at the mist. “I, much like you, am a Dragon.” Spike sighed. “Oh great another Dragon, just what I need is another jerk pressuring me to do stupid things!” Spike said rolling his eyes sarcastically. “I can assure you young Dragon that whatever Dragons you may have previously met were not like you or me. You see young Dragon we are not normal Dragons, this should be abundantly obvious due to our ability to perform magic.” "Wait wait wait! I can’t use magic, aside from my fire anyway. But that was a spell cast by Celestia anyway." replied Spike hastily. "That is because none have yet bothered to teach you the ways of Genesis Dragon magic yet. That is why I am here. To teach you one of the oldest known types of magic to grace this world and to eventually reunite you with your own kind. Young Dragon there is much I wish to tell you and many you wish to ask but I fear that there are just not enough hours in a day. I promise to you that each night I will return to you before you begin to dream to teach you more if you so wish but first I must ask of you one thing." Duratus said beginning to rush his words a little towards the end. "Depends. Will it cause me any more pain?" Spike raised an eyebrow. "At first yes but it will be worth it. May I enquire as to how long you have had these back pains?" As if on cue Spike felt another stabbing pain between his shoulder blades. "About a month now I guess, but how did you know about the pains?" Spike winced slightly. "Magic can tell us many this young Dragon but not all things especially to a race of natural magic resistance, hence why I asked. But putting that aside what the pains mean is that you are growing your wings and that they have been held back from release for far too long. I am impressed that you can even stand it shows great strength especially for one in a situation such as yours." Spike went to interject but was unable to due to Duratus halting him "Now before you speak here is my request, once it is fulfilled I will be able to keep this spell open longer to answer the questions your mind must now be flooded with. So are you prepared?" Spike blinked. "Yes?" he said sounding unsure. "What I need you to do young Dragon is carve your back to release your wings." Spikes eyes widened. “Although the pain will be excruciating at first but it will prevent any serious problems arising if they are left to grow internally, you will also be able to fly like a true Genesis Dragon and have your magic become easier to access." Duratus was beginning to sound distracted. "DO WHAT!" Spike shouted. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ "Please young Dragon you must trust me. When they are released you will be able to access your magic far easier allowing me to keep this window open longer for us to talk." The white smoke of Duratus was beginning to dim as he began to speak faster as if running out of time. "Wait a minute nothing you said makes any sense. I don’t get it what am..." Spike gasped in pain and reached up and held his head. The intense pain from when Spike demanded proof of reality had returned with a vengeance. The smoke had dissipated into nothingness leaving nothing but blackness in his vision, the ringing in his ears became beyond unbearable. Then Spike woke up, launching himself out of his basket, eyes watering as he was flung into a coughing fit crawling around aimlessly on the floor. He eventually stopped coughing and began to slow his breathing; the pain had mostly disappeared by that point though he still felt a numb throbbing in his head and a ringing in his ears. Spike eventually stood up, noticing it was still night time, judging by the angle the moonlight was coming in through the window it appeared as if he hadn’t slept at all, but Spike knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep again now. The pain had sent enough adrenalin into his body to wake the dead. Slowly Spike’s mind began to clear as he remembered the dream he just had. ‘What the heck was that? It couldn’t have been a dream could it?' He thought massaging his temples. His train of thought however was broken by a small groan and some stirring in the bed above his basket. 'Well at least she didn’t wake up... what do i do now?' Spike stood there hesitantly for a moment before finally deciding to just walk down stairs for a drink. As Spike made his way down the stairs he felt his back begin to play up again, that had immediately cast his mind back to what Duratus said 'Carve your back to release your wings... you will be able to access your magic...' The words echoed in his mind for a moment. "Carve my back... no he couldn’t have been serious?" Spike stood motionless in the middle of the stair case. He suddenly decided to go back up stairs to the bathroom to find a mirror to examine his back. Upon entering the bathroom he made sure to close the door before turning the light on, scared that it would wake Twilight. Spike walked up to the mirror in the bathroom and looked himself over a couple of times coming to the conclusion that 'Yep that’s a dragon... a really small, really sore Dragon.' But that was only looking at himself head on. He bent his right shoulder down and turned his head so he could still see the reflection, feeling a twinge of pain as he did so. Spike reached an arm around himself to feel his back. When his claw came into contact with his back it felt tender, like a zit ready to burst only far bigger. He poked and prodded at his back for a moment, he then began to flex some of his back muscles a bit to stretch them and relieve some of the pain. That’s when he saw something peculiar moving just left of his right shoulder blade beneath his scales, he didn’t see what it was properly though so he tried to flex that muscle in particular again only focusing more intently than last time. He then saw something under his scales push up against them making a lump that moved as he flexed it. This however not only hurt but startled him at the same time electing a "ARR!" from Spike as he jumped back from the mirror sending him comedic stumbling over his own tail where the then landed right on his back provoking an even louder "AARRRR!!!" from the small Dragon. Spike squirmed on the floor for a bit before the sound of hoof steps filled his ears. He was expecting Twilight to rush into the bathroom sweep him up and ask him what’s wrong; sadly he received an angry Twilight that appeared not the least bit concerned about his wellbeing. "SPIKE! What the hay is going on in here it’s the middle of the night! Some of us are trying to sleep you know, you keep telling me to get some rest and when I finally do go to bed you get up in the middle of the night and take advantage of me being asleep and run around wreaking havoc and screaming randomly! Spike if you keep acting like an animal that’s exactly how I’m going to treat you." Twilight appeared to be steaming. "But my..." Like always Spike was prevented from explaining himself by a rampant Twilight. "No Spike I don’t want to hear it! You can sleep in the hallway tonight and I’m taking away your mini gem hoard!" she stormed off back to their room with a teary eyed Spike jogging slightly to keep up with his mad caretaker. When they got to the bedroom Twilight stopped suddenly in the doorway causing Spike to do the same. She then levitated his basket up off the floor in the room and carelessly threw it into the hall where he would now be spending the rest of the night. Twilight walked out into the hall and slammed the bedroom door shut behind her with her magic. "Now seeing that I’m awake again I might as well go back to work, so I don’t want to hear a peep out of you until morning okay! Now get some sleep you spoiled little gecko." Twilight stormed off to her study and slammed the door so hard Spike heard the door crack slightly. Spike was so flabbergasted about what just transpired that he had no idea what to think or how to feel, at first he was sad but now he was confused as well and maybe even a little angry at how abusive Twilight had just been for what he thought to be no just cause. 'What’s wrong with her? Why is she being so mean? She’s been cruel before but this is a whole new level! What did I do that was so wrong?' Questions just kept swimming around in Spike’s head as he slowly remade his bed inside his tiny basket. Spike sat in his basket for what felt like hours, unable to get any sleep. Soon enough the sun began to rise shining a brilliant yellow in through the windows. It was around this time that Twilight ventured out of her study and walked up to Spike clearly just as tired as the day before. She walked over to spike with an apologetic look in her eyes. “Morning Spike, I’m sorry I yelled at you last night that may have been a little uncalled for.” She said calmly looking him in the eye. That made Spike smile slightly. “But you must understand why you’re in trouble and why I have been so stern with you.” Her voice turned into a commanding tone but not raising her voice. “So if you’re good I’ll give you back your gems, does that sound fair?” It didn’t really sound fair to Spike but he knew arguing would be pointless making this his only option to get back his gems. He replied with a soft tone of voice. “Yes Twilight.” “Good, now I’ve got a few scrolls in my study that I need you to send to the princess, they’re the ones with the blue seals on my desk, can you send them off while I go down to the kitchen and make some breakfast?” She said as she began to head down stairs. “Yes ma’am!” said Spike puffing out his chest and saluting. Spike ran off to Twilights study to do as he was asked, he felt happy about the talk he and Twilight just had even if it was putting him in the wrong. He didn’t care though, Twilight seemed to be in a better mood and that seemed to be all that mattered to him at the moment. Spike finally got into the study, grabbed the documents and began to send them off by fire. He had just sent off the last document when he heard Twilight shout his name angrily from the kitchen. “SPIKE!!!” Spikes froze knowing whatever had happened was going to be his fault whether or not it really was. Spike ran down stairs, eager to get the lecture to come over and done with. “Yes Twilight?” His voice shook a little whilst saying this. Twilight said nothing and just pointed a hoof at the mess on the floor next to the kitchen table. It was the breakfast from the morning before that she had dropped shortly before sending Spike outside for the day. “Oh sorry Twilight I didn’t get a chance to…” Spike was cut off sounding a little panicked. “Out.” Said Twilight flatly, now pointing at the door. “But…” “Out.” She interrupted again in the same tone of voice. “I didn’t…” “Out” she said once again in the same tone. Spike just put on a sad expression and walked out the door looking back only for a second before Twilights magical aura slammed the door shut leaving him once again outside and alone. Spike just sat down on the front step, suppressing tears and choosing to focus his mind elsewhere in an attempt to pass the time. He had been there for about an hour before his back began to hurt again, Spike straightened up in hopes to relieve some of the pain. Looking up Spike saw a Pegasus flying around in the clouds. No pony he recognized, just a random enjoying the wind in his face as he flew around doing random tricks showing off to any bystanders. All Spike saw however was his wings. “Carve my back?”