//------------------------------// // One // Story: Love Shadowed by Adoration // by soothsayer //------------------------------// A twitching eye added to his building frustration. Between the endless sound of hollow clacking that cycled on a loop in his head and the emptiness he felt from being away from home, Spike was miserable. This trip wasn't supposed to be relaxing but it wasn't supposed to be so irritating either. Laying there in his bed Spike was starting to consider just suffocating himself with his pillow. Moonbeams casted shadows across the room. When he was little he remembered thinking that shadows were monsters but now he wished they were as all of them seemed to take the shape of the subject of his pain, Rarity. He wondered why the world seemed to mock him as he turned over and peeped out his window. The night sky was marvelously decorated with millions of stars that seared little holes in the velvet blackness of the night. Each star seemed to be a diamond interwoven into the nights dress and the moon sat has the headpiece of the nights crown. "Diamonds," he muttered as flopped back down onto his bed. Reaching for his pillow he covered his grimacing face and let out a sigh, "Why does it always have to diamonds." Throwing his pillow to the floor he let out a groan. "I can't keep doing this to myself," raising up he looked out the window again. Trying to get Rarity off of his mind his eyes wondered again to the stars. He started to name off the constellations he recognized, "Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Capricorn, Canis Major, Canis minor, Libra, Scorpio..." Many of the constellations had stories behind them like Pegasus whose name was adopted by a winged pony tribe as their name. Of all the constellations there wasn't one that told the story of what he truly wanted. With a hollow thump his head struck the glass window. This was his life, he was forever separated from everything and everypony else. It seemed that all he would ever be was an observer. "Why couldn't I have been born a pony," laying back in his bed he closed his eyes. "What and be another boring face in the herd," said a voice off to his left. A jolt of electricity shot down Spikes spine as he recognized the voice. Jumping to his feet Spike balled his fist prepared for anything the trickster could have planned. A disembodied set of eyes floated just out of striking distance shinning in glee, "Ha! Your courage is admirable but I'm not here to fight, little dragon," a light fixture materialized above the floating eyes. A clawed hand joined the eyes in their ghostly state and reached up to flick on the light, "I'm here to shed some light on the situation." Spike threw up a hand to block the sudden intrusion of light into the dark room. Pupils shrank and howled out in pain at the brightness. "Argh! What do you want Discord?", hissed Spike as he raised his free hand with it still clenched into a little green fist. The rest of Discords body oozed out from his eyes and hand until Discord was standing in his entirety in the middle of the room. A wide smile crossed his lips as he saw how unnerved the little Drake was had become at his intrusion. "I want what everypony wants," throwing his hands wide he shouted, "EVERYTHING!" Dropping his clawed hand from shielding his eyes Spike gave the Draconequus a flat look, "Well go and get it someplace else." Pouting Discords shoulders drooped, "And here I thought we were friends, Spikey Wikey." Smoke billowed out from Spike nose as he raised his a claw and pointed at Discord and he roared, "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" His pout was replaced with a cocky grin as he brought his finger tips together, "Struck a nerve have I." "Get out Discord." said Spike as he started to shake in anger. Frowning he slithered to the door. Just before he crossed the threshold he looked over his shoulder at the fuming drake, "And I was just about to offer you a deal of a life time. Such a pity." As much as he tried to deny it the dragon had like all dragons had a deep-seated greed that burned like a roaring fire. On top of that it was no secret that the dragon loved to haggle and deal. Discords words at the very least piped his interest, "Wait!" With a snap of his fingers Discord returned to the center of the room, with an ear shattering pop. After removing his hands from his ears Spike noticed the devilish glint in his advisories eyes. It was the same look that Applejack would wear like a mask when she was at her apple stall. Discord had a product or service and Spike was looking to buy. "So you will hear me out?" Nodding yes the trickster gave the dragon a half smile. "Do you really want to be...," Shaking his head Discord finished, "I can't believe I'm saying this, a pony?" Lowering his head and his gaze Spike started to twiddle his thumbs nervously, he hadn't even admitted that fantasy to even Twilight and he was about to say it loud to Discord of all creatures. "Uh, yes." Shooting toward Spike Discord coiled around the dragon and looked him over. He turned the drakes head side to side while griping the little dragons chin. Spike set his jaw firmly and gave the freak show who was acting like someponies aunt as he pinched his cheek a cold look. "I think I can work with what you have to strut," was all he offered the dragon as he slunk back to his place. Rubbing his now sore cheek Spike raised an eyebrow. "So Spike do you want to be an earth pony, a pegasus, or a unicorn?" He couldn't believe it Discord was actually offering him a chance to live out one of his fantasies but he thought, there has to be a catch. "I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have to know why?" "I knew you would get around to wandering why a ex-ruler of Equestria famed as being contrary and manipulative would be so generous. To be honest its because I'm bored. But that isn't my only reason." He answered as he summoned an chair to sit on. "What are your other reasons?" asked Spike wanting to know all the details. Smiling Discord looked over the dragon, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." A blush flooded Spikes cheeks, "I want to do this for a mare, ok." "Bwha ha ha ha!" let out Discord as he threw his head back in a haughty laugh. After wiping a tear that fell from his eye he gave the dragon his best d'aww face. Spike stiffened up and curled his fingers into fist at his side. "Ok, I told you mine now you tell me yours!" Spat Spike. "Well if it wasn't for you spitting up all those letters Twilight wouldn't have broken free of my spell and I would be ruling Equestria to this day. The only way that could have happed was through you. On the other hand if you hadn't done what you did I wouldn't have been encased in stone and later freed to come to understand how joyous having a friend can be. So if you go through with this transformation and the mare still rejects you then you will be crushed. I would very much like to see you suffer for your hoof in defeating me. On the other hoof if she accepts you and you get to have the romance you dream of; it would be like me thanking you for helping me to discover the magic of friendship. Either way I win!" Said Discord as illusionary coins fell behind him making him look like he was a jackpot winner in Las Pegasus. Placing a claw to his chin Spike thought it over. "Well what will it be, little Spike? Earth pony, pegasi, or unicorn?" said Discord with an eager grin. After trying out each form Spike had settled on being a pegasus mostly because with his wings he could still write somewhat with the wing tips like he had with his claws. Looking in the mirror he admired his new form. He was a purple coated stallion with a longish curly mane that made his head look like it was on fire, that is if fire was an acidic green. Discord was even nice enough to make him into an adult stallion. Spike figured he was about Rainbow Dash's age. "Do you like your new form Spike?" asked Discord as he floated lazily about the room. "Do I ever!" said Spike as he reached up and rubbed a hoof across his soft warm coat. He then preceded to run around the room savoring every clop of his hooves. What he didn't expect was that walking on four hooves instead of two was awkward at best as he tripped over his own feet and plowed head first into the floor. "Bwah ha ha ha!" snorted Discord again. Pulling himself up from the floor he shot Discord a hard look. "You have got wings too you know," Discord said as he teleported to the other side of the pegasus. Taking hold of a wing he pulled it out to its full length and admired his handy work. Snapping his wing back to his side Spike again gave him a hard look. Rolling his eyes Discord stepped back to give Spike some room. Spike unfurled his wings and flexed the little muscles underneath thier feathery mantle. He watched as he pulled the feathers downward and then upward. He drew his primaries in curling the wings at their tips. After he got confidents with the feeling of his wings he began to flap. Wind gushed out from where he was standing making Discord goatee billow out away from the demigod. Lifting off the ground Spike let out a Squee. After hovering there for a few moments he started to experience lactic acid build up in his wings and shoulders as the muscles began to burn. Touching down he panted at the effort he had just put his body through in just trying to fly. "I didn't... huff... think flying was going to... huff... that hard." heaved Spike as he tried to catch his breath. "I'm afraid that magic is no substitute for exercise. If it was there would be many more unicorn body builders," said Discord in a matter of a fact tone, "Are you done playing around?" "Yes." "Good. Now lets go over the ground rules of this game." added Discord as he matched Spikes smile. Shaking his head in disbelieve he shot Discord a confused look, "Rules? Game?" Discords Smile stretched wider, "Yes rules and game." Gulping Spike accepted his fate. "The rules are simple." answered Discord as he took on the appearance of a referee. "There is only one rule, Spike. You cannot under any circumstance tell nopony who you really are. If you break that rule you will turn return to your normal dragon form." "ugh!" groaned Spike as he dropped his head. Landing Discord trotted up to Spike and lifted his chin with a claw, "What's wrong Spike is the rule to difficult for you to comprehend." Spike pulled away and walked back over to the mirror. Looking at himself he tried to smile but the thought of lying to his friend coupled with the fact that he would be going into a possible relationship with Rarity cold made his inside start to knot up. "So I can't be me I have to be somepony else and I have to walk into Ponyville like I don't know anypony." he said more to himself than to Discord. "Precisely," Discord walked over to Spike and places his mismatched hands on the pegasi's shoulders, "Don't worry about explaining your absence to the Princesses or to you friends in Ponyville I'll handle that but I want you on the next train to Ponyville." Spike looked up and gave Discord a horrified expression, "Tonight!" Discord laughed and then said, "Tonight." Running over to his dresser he started to lay all the stuff he wanted to take out on his bed. Discord facepalmed, "The last train for Ponyville leaves in four minuets Spike so tell me what you need so you can be one your way." Turning toward Discord his face looked void as if he didn't understand the question, "Uh... what was that?" "WHAT DO YOU NEED!" yelled Discord in frustration. "Oh, I need my bit bag. Some writing material. A bedroll because I doubt I'll get a hotel room tonight. A book to read on the train. An awesome fedora because I want to look cool. Saddle bags to put all this junk in and since I can't fly to well I thought I would wrap my wing and pretend like I'm injured so that way no pegasus will call me on my lack of flying ability." trailed on Spike. Raising his hand Discord Snapped his fingers, "Done. Now hold on to your hat because its going to be a bumpy ride." he said just before he snapped his fingers again. Bones and skin twisted into a vortex of flesh and Spike whirled through the little wormhole that Discord had created. He had teleported with Twilight many time before but this was different. This made him feel like he was made of jelly and the constant spinning made him feel queasy. At the end of the tunnel he could see a spinning table and just before h could make out what it was he was standing in front of the ticket booth looking green around the gills. The Ticket salespony fell out of her seat in shock as the pegasus materialized in front of her. She crashed to the floor and didn't immediately get up. Spike thanked Celestia for the spook he gave the mare because in scaring her she didn't have to see him hurl. After emptying his stomach he looked up to see the mare had scrambled back into her chair with her mane looking like a rats nest. "Uh excuse me sir! Are you here to buy a ticket." She grumbled. Wiping the vomit off his face Spike nodded yes. "ALL ABOARD!" yelled a Conductor. Spike didn't pay the conductor no never mind, "One ticket to Ponyville please." She accepted his payment and then pointed at the now moving train. "If you want to get to Ponyville you better catch that train." His eyes went wide and he froze for a moment as he watch the train start to pull away from the platform. "GET GOING!" yelled the ticket mare. He didn't need to be told twice and he was off to catch his train. Racing alongside the train he honed in on the entry way. The wooded platform gave way to gravel as he pumped his legs underneath him. Watching in horror as the train started to pull away he started to pick up his pace. Inside the train the pegasi's antics had caught the attention of one of the passengers. The white and purple unicorn stared out the window at the frantic face of the pony trying to catch the train. She felt for the young stallion so she decided to help him out. A blue glow enveloped her horn and the pegasus winked out. He fell into a heap on the sleeper cars floor. Clapping rang in his ears as the mare clapped her hooves in excitement because her quick spell work had worked with out any ill effects. The other occupant of the room didn't even look up from his paper. The world was spinning again. Looking through tired eyes he watched the white and purple mare approach him and just before he passed out he said one word, "Rarity?"