//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: The Villain // by Gear Spring //------------------------------// Days later, Twilight Sparkle has gathered in the castle, standing before the crystalized table. For the first time in what seems forever, her friends are at her side. Looking around at them, she sees Apple Jack and Rarity having a conversation between the two of them. Across from her, Fluttershy is petting Angel, who happened to have joined her in the castle. The tender Pegasus has a pleasant smile on her face. Tranquility is not long, as Pinkie Pie happily blows a small confetti cannon at Twilight, spraying the colorful paper in her hand. Rather than be mad, Twilight smiles. “I really missed this,” she says to them all. “I am glad we were able to makeup like that.” “It was all thanks to Discord,” Starlight Glimmer joins the princess at her side. “You’re right,” Twilight nods. “I probably owe him an apology for being so suspicious of him. “Oh please, Twilight, it’s what friends are for.” The seven ponies look in the direction of the voice, finding the Lord of Chaos draped about the chandelier. A big grin is plastered on his face. Slithering from the high place, he joins the girls. “Listen, Discord,” Twilight starts, but he places a tiger paw over her mouth. “Please, Twilight,” he says calmly, “I understand where you came from. In the past I may have had a bit of a bad streak. If I was in your position, I probably would’ve suspected me to.” “Wow, Discord, that is really grown up of you.” “Really, you think so?” he smiles. “Well I’ve had a couple hundred years to mature.” “So, um, Twilight,” Fluttershy speaks up, “What are we going to do now?” “What do you mean?” “She means about Spike, darling,” Rarity says. “Princess Celestia said that he vanished.” “I reckon that he is still out there plotting to take you down,” Apple Jack chimes in. “I’m not so sure about that,” Starlight says. “The spell that he used to become that has negative drawbacks. The more he exerts himself, his body will not be able to handle the merging of all those essences. He has probably started breaking down.” “Is there any way of reversing it?” Twilight asks. “Woah, Twilight, are you serious?” Rainbow Dash speaks up. “Why are you worried about Spike?” “Well…” “He tried tearing our friendship apart by making us turn on one another. He harmed Discord and Starlight, while they both have been bad guys in the past, that is downright wrong. And don’t forget he tried to harm you!” “Yes, Rainbow Dash, I know. But…” “You know, Twilight,” Apple Jack cuts her off, “Rainbow has a point. As much as we loved that little dragon, it turns out he weren’t so caring towards us. Why you worried about a no good varmint like that?” “Because,” Twilight looks down, “He’s that way because of me. Clearly he was a troubled friend that had shown signs before, but I wasn’t there to steer him from this path.” “How is it your fault?” “Well, it started after Starlight Glimmer started living with us at the castle.” I remember it so clearly. It was a rare night where Luna did not place the moon up in the sky. Plunged in darkness, I had to do my reading by candle light. As I turned the page, I heard a knock at the door. The door opened before I gave permission, Spike sheepishly entering my bedroom. Tucked under his arm was a very old spell book that I had finished reading after I became an alicorn. “What are you doing up at this hour?” he asked. “Oh, just catching up some late night reading before I go to sleep.” He looked away, before speaking, “Twilight, I know you have been a princess or quite some time, and are finally getting used to the role now, right?” “Yes, I guess so,” I put my book down. “After everything that has happened over the past few years, I guess I am starting to get used to the idea of being one.” “Well, I was thinking,” he spoke again. “Princess Celestia took you in as her pupil to teach you about magic and eventually become the pony that you are today.” “Yes, that’s right…” “Well, since you are now comfortable with your role, maybe it’s time for you to take in a protégé.” I thought about the notion. I had never thought I would ever take in a student, but what Spike said had got my mind thinking. I had become comfortable as a princess, and there were many ponies out there that could use the teachings of friendship. And since I am only one pony, it would be helpful to teach another pony about the magic of friendship or magic in general. I enjoyed teaching Apple Bloom about potions, but I would always like more. “You know, you’re right Spike. Maybe it’s time that I did take in a pupil to teach. And I think I might have someone perfect in mind.” “I couldn’t agree with you more, Twilight. And I would be honored to be taught under you.” “What? No Spike, I couldn’t teach you. I was anticipating to have Starlight Glimmer be my student. She is so adept in magic, and she has great potential in learning how to make friends and build her friendship with others.” “What?” Spike looked at me in disbelief. “No, I wanted to be taught magic from you. I’ve been with you since the beginning, I thought you could teach me everything how to make friends. Then maybe I could help bridge the gap between dragons and ponies.” For some reason I found that notion funny, so I laughed, “Oh, Spike, that’s cute, but dragons can’t learn magic.” “I,” he looked crushed, but I expected it to be just a baby dragon to get his hopes so high. “I understand. If that is all, I guess I’ll be going to bed.” Now that I look back on that night, I should have realized the dark tone in his voice after I turned him down. There was a villainous shade that blanketed his face as it darkened. He dropped the spell book there and walked out the bedroom. I had just rolled my eyes as he slammed the door behind him. “I was really awful,” Twilight looks downhearted. “I should have at least humored him if I did not agree with the idea of teaching him. He was my friend and I crushed his dreams in that instant. Who knows how long he had been practicing magic in preparation to that day. It’s my fault that he became like this.” “No, darling,” Rarity says, stomping her hoof on the table. “It is not your fault. Even if you shot down his dreams, Spike took the wrong route to deal with the rejection.” “Rarity’s right,” Fluttershy agrees. “No matter how much that rejection hurt him, he shouldn’t have done what he did. It’s not your fault he acted this way, Twilight.” “Still,” the princess sighs. “I cannot help that there are some similarities between this situation and what happened to Princess Celestia.” “What do you mean?” Rainbow asks. “Princess Celestia told me that she had not helped Luna so long ago when her sister was in need. Resentment grew and eventually turned her into Nightmare Moon. I cannot shake the feeling that I am doing the same as my mentor.” “Then you know what you must do,” Discord speaks up. “An apologize can do wonders.” “Yes, I think that is what I need to do,” Twilight says. “If you guys could help me, I’d like to track down Spike and say I’m sorry for not hearing him out. Will you help me?” “Well, I guess if that’s what you think,” Rainbow says, “Then I’ll help.” “I reckon it’s a good idea.” “I agree, darling.” “Um, if that’s what you think is best.” “He-he, we can have a party too.” “Thanks girls,” Twilight looks around at the table. “I knew I could count on all of you.” In the murky streets of Equestria, the midnight fog rolls on the emptied streets. As the street lamps flicker on and off, there are a rambunctious group of colts out in the dark hours of the night. Young unicorns use their magic to float cans of spray paint as they decorate the walls in the alleyways. One of them finishes his salacious mural of Princess Celestia when he tosses his empty can to the ground. It rolls on the cobblestone until it hits something soft. A cloaked figure stands there at the entrance to the alley. They kick it back to the ponies. “Hey, who do we have here?” one of the colts asks. “Essence, delicious essence,” the cloaked figure hisses. “Magic going to waste…” “Hey, buddy,” another chimes in. “I would suggest you get out of here before you get hurt.” Out from the cloak, a long serpentine tail shoots out and wraps around the throat of the nearest unicorn. The colt struggles to break free as the layer of bone around the scales dig into the flesh of his neck. He tries to scream, but his eyes gloss over and he falls him in the grip of the bone covered tail. The mysterious figure let’s go. Seeing their friend lying on the ground, the other two colts back away. Pulling back the hood, the figure is a dragon as tall as the ponies. Scales of deep violet almost seem to soak in the shadows. The majority of his face is hidden by a helmet as white as bone. Through the vertical slits, his eyes glow a haunting emerald. A claw slips through the cloak, long talons are encased in a magical hue. One of the colts gasp before collapsing to the ground. A strange magical light seeps through their skin, floating through the air before being soaked into the scales. Thorn looks to the last standing pony, who has backed his way into the corner. “I still hunger,” he says, gnashing his fangs. “I need more essence. More power. Raw power!” He pounces on the last pony, who lets out a scream, but it is quickly silenced. “More…More…I need more!”