//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14: Everything At Once 
// Story: [Archived] Scales and Carapaces 
// by ProjectZerro 
//------------------------------//

	She slowly rubbed the ridge between her eyes.

Its not like she hadn't seen this coming. They were way too close for them to not start a relationship. That she knew. What she didn’t know, was that if she left the two of them alone for a day this would happen.

Twilight continued to rub the ridge between her eyes.





The doors to the main audience room opened slowly revealing a slightly damp Spike and Silk, Twilight almost fainted in relief. Twilight had woken up, gotten worried and went to her duties to keep herself occupied, Spike was a grown drake after all. But now here they were standing perfectly fine…with somewhat ripped clothes…Silk’s hair a mess…and Spike looks like he got caught sneaking midnight snacks again.

“Oh sweet Celestia please don’t tell me…”

“…Um…Silk and I are a couple now…surprise?” Spike coughed out as Silk giggled and kept her arms wrapped around Spike’s arm.

She suddenly felt very, very tired.





She finally put down her hand and looked over to Spike and Silk as they were bombarded with questions about the night before. Silk seemed more than happy to tell everypony, Spike was less than willing.

“I am so happy for the both of you!” Fluttershy let her wings flap happily and she looked up to the muscular white stallion next to her. “Aren’t you sweetie?”

The buffed out Pegasus gave a hearty laugh and punched Spike in the shoulder roughly. “YEAH I am! Glad you found somepony dude!”

“Thanks Snow…ow.” Spike rolled his shoulder to ease the pain.

“I knew the two of you were perfect for each other the moment I saw you!” Rarity smiled happily as she held onto Silk’s hands. The two of them were slightly bouncing and giggling. “But honestly Spike!” She left go of Silk and poked Spike in the chest hard. “An inn? Surely we raised you better than that!”

“Hey I had nothing to do with it!” Spike raised his hands in defense.

Silk shuffled on her hooves. “It’s was kinda all my fault…I did sorta tease him into-,”

“I think they get the picture!” Spike blushed furiously as he cut her off.

“Still a gentledrake such as yourself should have been more prepared. You must always treat a lady higher than-,”

“Actually…” Everyone looked at Silk as she cut Rarity short. “I’m fine with how things turned out. Ever since I met Spike for the first time I feel like being myself is what’s right. If he started treating me like royalty I’d feel weird…”

Rarity blinked and took on a strange look of sorrow. “Oh…yes I am so sorry. You know how I can be at times…but I am truly happy for you two.” Rarity hugged Silk and Twilight could have sworn she saw her whisper something in Silk’s ear.

“Well don you two get too frisky now. The both o’ ya live with Twi after all.” Applejack shot Twilight a look and watched her raise a brow.

“Don’t worry I’m sure this bookworm wouldn’t even know what to make of all the noises. She’d probably mistake it for someone in pain.” Rainbow Dash laughed as Twilight pouted and blushed lightly.

“Ooooo I wish I could throw you two a super awesome extra special ‘Congrats On Doing It Party’-,”

“Pinkie!” Spike and Twilight shouted at the top of their lungs and Pinkie twisted a finger in her ear.

“Fiiiiiiiine. A ‘Yay You’re A Couple’ party, sticks-in-the-mud, but I’m going away with my hubby for a few days! I’ll make sure to throw you one when I get back though!” Pinkie hugged Silk and Spike and ran of towards the castle’s front doors.

Spike and Silk had broken the news to everypony, if Twilight and the other elements counted as everypony, after figuring out a good time to get everypony together. They were now in the castle private lounge room as they talked.

Rainbow patted Spike on the back. “Good on ya big guys! Just make sure you guys are happy or whatever, anyway I’ll see ya later Spitfire finally has a day off!” Rainbow rushed out he nearest window and Fluttershy and Snowflake soon followed.

“Spike? Silk? Would you like to stop by the boutique? As a gift of your bond I want to give you something that would fit you both wonderfully!” Rarity clapped her hands together.

“Sure Rares. Come on Silk.” Silk nodded and the three of them began to leave. “See you in a bit Twi, this time I promise.” Spike called back.

Twilight and Applejack waved and Twilight sighed. Seeing them together was sweet but…it was also somehow tiring. 

“Hey Twi, if yer not too busy min stopin by and checkin out the harvest? Ya did say you’d need to head over soon.” Applejack called out and smiled.

Twilight shook the tiredness from her mind and nodded. “Lets go.”





Rarity closed and locked the door behind them as Spike, Silk and herself enter her boutique. “Now darlings…how are you going to tell Twilight?” Rarity turned and looked at Silk as her disguise fell. “I doubt she’ll take it as well as I did…sorry about your mane again…”

Chrysalis sighed and sat on the couch with a hard flop. She put her hands on her face and groaned. “It’s not your fault really. I honestly can’t blame you. I didn’t leave a very good impression…”

Spike sighed and crossed his arms. “Sorta wish you told me that you told her who you really were, Chrysalis…” Chrysalis waved to him and he sat next to her. She wrapped her arms around his and snuggled against him.

“I had to do this on my own. Besides all she did was singe my mane. I’ve been meaning to cut it anyway. But I know how much you like pulling on it so-,”

Spike flexed his claw and Chrysalis giggled happily. Rarity cleared her throat and walked over.

“But now that you two are even closer what will you do? I’ve told you hiding it will only make it harder.” Rarity kneeled in front of Chrysalis. “You can’t live a lie your whole life.”

“…I know Rarity…I really do but…” Chrysalis squeezed Spike’s arm harder. “I’m scared…honestly I’m truly scared. Will they forgive me as easily as you? Will I be killed? And will Spike be blamed?”

Spike kissed her forehead and made her look at him. “Don’t worry about me. I swore to help you no matter what and now I’ve got a few extra reasons.” Spike pointed at her nose. “One.” Then down to each of her features. “Two, three, four-,”

Chrysalis smiled and kissed Spike softly. “You’ll spoil me rotten. I want to tell them all, but I need more time…in case things do go south…I want something to be happy for.”

Rarity and Spike looked at each other and nodded.





Heavy breathing could be heard as the flapping of wings boomed down the halls off the Canterlot Castle. The doors to the audience chamber burst open and revealed an exhausted Blue Sky.

Luna quickly flew over and held him up before he collapsed. “Sky! What’s wrong?”

“I-It’s…the one we found…there’s a change in his condition!” Blue Sky shouted with the last of his energy and slid to the ground and sat down to rest.

“What!? Everypony please leave, this is a private matter!” Celestia ordered all the guards and complaining royals out immediately and rushed to Sky’s side. “Have you seen him? Is he okay?”

“He’s…better then okay…he’s surviving and…regaining his strength without eating emotions…” Sky pulled a letter out of his pocket. “This…is the report done by the…doctors we had checking him up…everything we knew about them is about...to change…”

Celestia looked over the papers inside the letter, with every page her eyes grew wider. “This…we need to know if he’ll be alright. Hold this information from my son until we know this one will stay alive!” Celestia stood up and smiled at Sky. “You’ve done very well Sky, thank you.”

“Heh…anything for you Celi.” Sky smiled tiredly and chuckled.

Luna put Sky’s arm around her and picked him up. “Come you must rest Sky. You deserve it.”

“I’ll…take you…up on that…” Sky and Luna walked out of the chamber doors as Celestia looked over the medical data once again. “Abnormal shape of stomach and intestines seem to be changing to match that of a normal pony’s biology… What can this mean?”





In an outpost far to the west of Ponyville.

A silver toned unicorn guard garnished in black armor and a sword strapped to his waist walks over to a tent that has been set up near a lake. “Doctor?”

A light brown stallion in a doctor’s attire opened the flap of the tent and stepped out. “Hello there Commander Mercury. Come to check in with my patient?”

“More like checking on you. Do you feel any different? Is there-,” The doctor sighed and shook his head.

“I am fine just like I was an hour ago. Now stop bothering me, I do have a very critical patient.” The doctor stepped back inside and the guard followed.

“I don’t trust these stinking bugs for one moment! For all we know this is a trap!” He looked over at the changeling lying in bed with its eyes closed. “Just waiting for a moment to attack.”

“You don’t have many friends do you? He’s far too weak for anything like that, and how can you say that? You saw that graveyard of a cave…I’ll never get the smell out of my mind for as long as I live. But imagine what he went through, to be the only one alive after all of his brothers and sisters died around him in agony from hunger.”

The guard clentched his teeth. “I know but…I just can’t look past their appearance…a bug is a bug…no matter how terrible their lives are.”

“And…that makes us…different how?” A voice came from the bed and the doctor and guard turned quickly to see the changeling sitting up with his eyes closed.

“I knew he was fooling us!” The guard went for his sword but was stopped by the doctor.

“You will not harm my patient!” He yelled at eh guard and made him back away. “Until Princess Celestia says otherwise he is under my protection. Touch him and I will gladly carve your head open to check if your brain is still working!”

The guard shook for a moment and hurried outside. The doctor cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. How are you feeling?”

“…very good considering…I was at Tartarus’ gates a month ago…” The changeling felt his face and slowly began to open his eyes.

The doctor watched and his eyes widened in shock. “M-my friend…you are a changeling correct?”

“As far as I remember, yes. Why do you ask?”

The doctor grabbed a mirror and showed the changeling his reflection. “…m-my eyes…” He reached up and rubbed the smooth skin around his eye socket. His eyes were no long the pale light blue like every drone he had ever known but they were golden and much like a regular pony’s. “T-this is…but how?”

“That is what I would like to know as well…” The doctor rubbed his chin and looked at the changeling as he sat in bed. After a moment he watch him put down the mirror. “Is something wrong?”

“There is someone I must speak to.” The changeling began to stand only to fall on the floor. The doctor ran over and lifted him up. “I…m-must find…Sir…Spike.” With the last of his energy spent on staying awake and trying to stand the changeling fainted without another word.





Back in Ponyville Twilight had returned to her castle in hope of seeing Spike home. She knocked on his door and got no answer.

She sighed and looked down the hall to Silk’s room and feared the worst.

“Twi?” Twilight jump and turned to see Spike carrying a few books. “Why are you in front of my door?”

“I was…I mean…what’s with the books?” Twilight pointed at the books he was carrying. “Wait are those-,”

“A couple of your favorite reads in the world? The Daring Do series? Yes. Why do I have them? Why I remember having a book date with a certain alicorn princess, but I can’t seem to remember who…” Spike used his tail to reach around and rub his chin.

“Hmph very funny. I would ask if they're heavy but you used to carry more when you were younger.” Twilight walked over to him and poked at his muscles. “I’ve completely forgotten what you look like without muscles like these.”

“Yeah well I didn’t really have a choice. It was fun getting stronger.” Spike walked past her and towards the private library. “Come on Twi, or I’ll start without you.”

Twilight smiled and ran after him. “Oh where’s Silk?” Twilight thought for a moment.

“She’s got some stuff to talk about with Rarity. It’ll be me and you all night.” Spike opened the door with his tail and set the books down on a table in front of the couch.

Twilight pulled off the jacket she had on and hopped on the couch with a bounce in her step. “You brought all of the first twenty do you really think we’ll finish them?”

“Not really though that’s not the point. The point is to read together with my favorite sister in the world.” Spike sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her and hugged her happily.

“You big oaf, I’m your only sister.” Twilight hugged him back and pulled the first book from the pile with magic. “And I’m so happy I am.”

“I agree.” Spike smiled and began to read with Twilight.





Twilight stretched and yawned a bit.

“Sleepy? We are on book five.” Spike looked at her with concern.

“No I’m fine. Just a random yawn really…hey Spike?” Twilight put the book down and turned to Spike so she was fully facing him. “Now that you and Silk are together…will we…do this anymore?”

“What do you mean?” Spike blinked.

“I know the seven of us agreed that after everything we’ve been through we’d be as close to each other as we could because we didn’t know what day would be the last but…now that you have somepony special…”

“…you are such a nerd.” Spike put a hand on her cheek and smiled. “I’ve been in relationships before you know, and still made time for you.”

“Yes but…she feels different…more…permeant. Like she’s done this before and wants to be with you for a long time or something…” Twilight grabbed Spike hand and nuzzled against it. “I don’t want to lose this Spike…”

“We won’t lose anything. I’ll still be me and you’ll still be Twilight.” He rubbed her cheek with a thumb. “The most important mare in my life.”

“You don’t mean that…” Twilight blushed and pulled herself closer to Spike.

“Of course I do. Do you understand how much I let you get away with?” Spike smiled and pulled her close. “I don’t care what you do or what happens in my life, I will always hold you the closest in my heart.”

“Spike…I…no…this…this isn’t right…”

“What isn’t right? You love me don’t you?” Spike’s hand grasped her fur and kept her in place.

“S-Spike! You’re hurting me!” He pulled her closer and a dark smile built on his face. “S-stop…please…”

“You have no right…you who love the one who calls you sister!” Spike’s face contorted into the terrible shape of a hideous monster. His hand wrapped around her neck and held her in place. Twilight tried to scream but nothing came out but air. “Fear not my lovely sister! I will take good care of you!” The false Spike opened its mouth unhinging it jaws ready to swallow Twilight whole.

“…S-Sp-Spike…help…”



…don’t……



……don’t you…



……………



“DON’T YOU TOUCH HER!”



A burst of powerful green flames tore out of the fake Spike’s body and it roared in pain. The fire engulfed the creature and forced it to let Twilight go. She fell back on the couch and watched as the creature screamed in agony. She expected the fire to burn everything around her but instead of heat it felt…cool. Like a warm blanket on a cold night the fire gave her a feeling of warmth and safety. She gazed on as the screams of agony stopped, signaling the death of the terrible monster.

Suddenly the green flames took on a shape, almost familiar and reach out its arms. Without thinking Twilight jumped up into its embrace and held the cool fire close to her body.

“Twilight…” A voice called her and she blinked. Her vision blurred and refocused on something in front of her. “Twilight! Thank goodness you’re alright!”

Twilight’s eyes adjusted to see Spike holding her and her friends around her.

“Gosh darnit Twi! Don you ever scares us like that again!” Applejack whipped the sweat from her forehead.

Twilight looked at Spike and then at Rarity and Silk who seemed tired. “W-what happened?”

Silk panted a bit and looked at her. “H-have…you been feeling odd lately? Heating up for no reason?”

“Y-yes…why?”

“Twilight darling somepony placed a curse on you!” Rarity held her hands and panted slightly. “It’s been eating away at you for days now.”

“W-what?” Twilight looked at Spike and he nodded. “What kind of curse?”

“Well…” Rarity began but faltered.

“It takes all of your regrets, doubts and repressed greed and turns it into a trigger.” Silk spoke quickly and sharply. “The trigger is different for everypony, sometimes it can be a word or an object. In your case…it’s Spike…”

Spike looked at Silk and then at Twilight. “…why is it me Twilight?”

Twilight blinked and looked at Silk, Rarity, Applejack and then at Spike. “I-I…I-I just…I honestly…don’t know…I don’t know…I don’t…” Tears built in her eyes and she buried he face in Spike’s chest.

Spike wrapped his arms around her and looked at eh three mares around him. “Give us some time…please…”

Silk nodded and pulled Rarity and Applejack out of the room. She closed the door quietly and left Spike alone with the sobbing Twilight.

“It’s okay Twi…no matter what you tell me…I’ll still be here for you.” He wrapped his wings around her and closed his eyes. “No matter what…”

Twilight clung to him for dear life and continued to cry. For herself? For the nightmare? For what she fear as the truth? She didn’t know.

To be continued…