Preface: Hidden Power
Equivalent Exchange
Preface:
Hidden Power
“Ponydom cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange."
- The book of Equivalent Exchange.
Twilight had gone to Canterlot for the weekend on royal princess training. She was worried about leaving Spike all by himself, but the teenage drake had convinced her that he, and the library, would be fine alone. She left just the day before, the day before it all began.
And that, my dear reader, is where our story beings. With Spike dusting an older bookshelf in the back of the library. A task that he had done many a time.
“Its amazing how *Cough* I dust these books everyday, and yet, they always get dusty the next day. Not that I'm complaining or anything.” He rolled his eyes.
Sarcasm had become a norm for Spikes personalty during his teenage years. For a teenage pony, sarcasm was expected. Same with Spike. But being a dragon, everything seemed to double in extremity. But Twilight always made sure that Spike didn't over do it.
After dusting the books. Spike used his strength to pull the bookshelf out. Now he was able to clean behind said bookshelf.
“Buck! I just cleaned behind this thing yesterday.” Spike covered his nose with a claw. The dust was starting to get to him. But on another note, you are probably wondering what Spike looks like as a teenager.
Well about two years ago. When Spike had turned fourteen. He hit a growth spurt. His body grew larger, just over the size of the average stallion. He was even larger when on two legs. But being heaver Spike now walked on all fours. His wings also grew in. They were small at first, but over the next two years they grew to his size. Though he wasn't as fast as Rainbow Dash, Spike still could get up to great speeds.
Spike started off the job by dusting the back of the bookshelf. Once done, Spike continued on the wall.
“How much *cough* dust *cough* is behind here!” Spikes nose started to tickle. He could feel a sneeze coming on, but before he could cover his nose, he sneezed a green ball of flame right at the wall!
“Oh buck!” Spike ran to the bathroom, got a bucket of water and returned to the wall, pouring all the water on the fire it was extinguished. He sighed in relief. “That.. That was a close one."
But something caught the dragon's eye. Right where the fire was put out, there was a hole the in the wall. At first glance anyone would think that it was made by the fire. But, upon closer inspection, Spike saw what appeared to be a small room.
“What in the name of-” His voice caught dead in his throat. When Spike reached his claw into the hole he felt a book like object.
Pulling it out Spike realized that it, was in fact, a book.
The book was old. Very old. And also huge. Not in size, but in pages. It was black. And the title of the black book was named: Equivalent Exchange. It had no author.
Another thing that caught Spikes eye was a metal chain around it. Making an X like cross that Spike guessed was used for keeping ponies out. Unfortunately for the book, Spike was no pony.
Using his sharp claws, Spike cut off the chain in one fast swipe. The only thing keeping Spike away from reading the old book was now gone.
“Now lets see what your all about.” Spike opened to the first page. “Huh. Chapter one: What is Alchemy?”.
'Alchemy? Now where have I heard that word before?' Spike thought with a claw taping his chin. 'Odd, but, whatever'.
“Alchemy is not only a power, but an art as well." Spike read. "The proper application of this craft requires not only a full understanding of chemistry and ancient alchemical theory, but also a sort of natural talent towards recognizing and manipulating the physical objects with energy, which require uncommon levels of intelligence and aptitude. Those few remarkable individuals capable of studying and practicing alchemy are known as 'Alchemists'."
'Chemistry...', Spike thought. 'Why, I can do that! All those years living with Twilight, and her crazy experiments might pay off after all!'
A smiled appeared on his face.
'But, its also said that you need to know ancient alchemical theory. And, to have also a natural talent towards recognizing and manipulating objects with energy. But I have no clue what any of that means. Better keep reading on...'
A few hours pasted and Spike quickly delved deeper into what the book had to say. It told him that there was an invisible energy in the world and that, with Alchemy, can be manipulated into anything.
But to do so, you need to used the first law of Equivalent Exchange.
“Ponykind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange” The book had told him.
After a day of reading. Spike was hooked onto what the book had to say: Alchemy is almost like magic. But go's much deeper into your soul. Everything in the world is bound to the law of Equivalent Exchange. Anything can be changed, fixed, broken, or created with this law. But remember, you can not create something without first giving something of equal value in return.
Spike closed the book. “Well...” Spike didn't know what to say.
If all this was true than that meant that there was an ancient power in this world, that only a few thousand or more could do, called Alchemy. And that it was far more powerful than any kind of magic use today.
“Man. Twilight is going to be so pissed!” Spike laughed.
Then Spike looked at the clock. “Wow.. 1:30am. I spent the whole day reading. I'd better stop for now before I start acting like Twilight.” He laughed again but soon turned his attention to the book before his claws. “I wonder...” He whispered.
The book had only told him so much so far. He had stopped on chapter one, the next chapter would tell him about how to use Alchemy. But then he remembered that only a certain few were capable of practicing it. He wondered if he was one of those few...
Putting his claws to the wooden floor he concentrated hard. He didn't even know If this was how you gone about doing Alchemy. He had not gotten that far in the book yet. But something inside him said that this was the way to do it. So he listened.
At first nothing happened. But then a small red spark shot out from his claws.
“Ahhh!” Spike screamed and fell backwards.
It didn't hurt, but just shocked the drake. Siting back up. Spike thought that nothing had happened. But a closer look as the smoke cleared made him think differently.
There! Right were he had placed his claws and where the red bolt of lighting had sparked. The wood to the floor had changed. Now, a little miniature wooden dragon was in its place. It looked like a child's toy.
Spike picked up the wooden toy. “Huh...” was all he said.
It was a far cry from the kind of Alchemy he would do in the future. But it was a start....
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A Harlem you say?
Though Spike could certainly beget a city.
Did you perhaps mean harem?
4693351 Stole my punchline you did.
Alchemy, something that could give unicorn magic a run for its money and can be twice as dangerous as dark magic. And Spike was able to do so without a circle. Not only that but the sparks were red. Hmm, maybe due to his unique birth he took a quick trip to the doors of truth or he is a special kind of homonculus? Either that or he at one point ate a philospher stone, or maybe he was born with one? I can't wait to see how this would change Spike life.
4693351 *rubs back of head* haha... How embarrassing. Here let me change that.
4693527
Understandable, one of the downsides of spell-checkers is that they miss out on context.
You may also want to change "begetting" to "be getting" -- beget means:
1. bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction.
2. give rise to; bring about.
I guess this makes Spike the Foal Metal Alchemist
4693551 haha nice!
Thank you, thank you
Well, given the circumstances of Spike's hatching, transmutation without a circle might not be so farfetched (Or possibly homunculi abilities, for that matter)
Let's see where you'll take this. I normally avoid dark fics but this has interesting enough a premise for me to ignore that to a certain point. Also:
Are you sure you didn't mean sneeze?
ponies.
Please fix these and consider getting a proofreader and/or editor. Keeping the quality of your writing on a higher standard makes it a lot easier for us readers to immerse ourselves to the story. I don't want to sound mean, but I see this happening all the time. The first chapter is even more important to get fixed because that is what you use to attract readers to continue.
EDIT: I'll fav for now to see where this goes.
Good read although there are a few errors with word choice. For example, 'seize' should be 'sneeze'. The former, while correctly spelled, means 'to conquer.' Also 'mite' needs to be spelled 'might', 'used' should be 'use', and 'I've' should be 'I'd'.
still looking forward to more. 
You mean this isn't a crossover with 'Fullmetal Alchemist?'
I'm really not hoping for a harem. Just, this crossover might ruin it. Believe me, if I see spike and harem in the same story description, in tracking it without reading it.
This time, it makes me wonder on whether it not I.should read this...
4693708 Thank you so much; PetuTheViewer & NobleValor! I have corrected the mistakes that you two have found
Also for NobleValor. This is a Fullmetal Alchemist crossover. But its just there powers and other things from FMA world put into the story. There won't be any people from FMA for example, in the MLP world 
Very nice!
Aside from a few (and it's not many at all) grammatical errors, my only suggestion would be to finish both FMA and FMA: Brotherhood before deciding which direction you want to take this in.
4693909 Thanks! I will take your advice. Also, I'm halfway done with FMA. I'm on episode 36 right now
So it won't take me that long. Depending on how long FMA Brotherhood is 
so spike is either homunculus or a living philosopher stone?
4694122 Yep.
4693935 Yep. FMA: Brotherhood is actually like 64 episdodes.
And apparently some OVA's that I had no idea existed. I guess I now what I'm doing next.
Bada bum bum ba. Im lovin it!
Please sir, may I have some more?
Interesting premise.
forth to last paragraph
I guess you meant concentrated or contemplated
also good start. FMA is one of my all time fave; all of it, the manga, the series, and brotherhood. I always like to seeing how different worlds mix.
4693618 I am with this! Also, you need an editor badly. Pretty good so far!
you have piqued my interest my dear 'brave', i am incredibly anxious to see where this path leads. Also IF spike is a homunculus, wouldn't it be correct to say that the other 6 are in Equestria? Or perhaps he is a combination of all 7? Or is he not of the 'Children' but of the 'Farther'? Though considering you haven't seen brotherhood yet, the last speculation is most likely not the case.
This needs another editing pass. There are lots of places with typos, misspellings, and incorrect words (like "beings" instead of "begins", or "seamed" instead of "seemed").
So I guess the whole Tirek thing never happened? Since Spike is cleaning out the library that was, y'know, destroyed.
How was Spike able to do alchemy without even having read chapter one of the book? So what, he just instinctively knows how to do it? Without any study or practice first? Even Ed and Al became experts by studying their father's books and training with their teacher, before they lost their bodies and saw Truth.
Verdict: Needs work, but overall not a bad start. This looks very promising. Good job, keep it up!
Spike + FMA. Hmm You have my curiosity? However, i'm afraid your story craftsmanship needs work. Too much Tell and not enough Show. However, I see potential in this story and it's premise. If you want, I can hook you up the a good writing coach that could help you improve. His name is Golden Vision, and I own a lot of my own success to his advice. Reply or PM me if you're interested. I promise you won't regret it.
Also, are you watching the original anima of Brotherhood. Brotherhood follows the manga while the original goes into it's own original story. Witch version you're basing off will become very important should the homunculi appear later on.
You couldn't have at least said "mortalkind"?
4693905 Why does it say you tagged me, and when I click, it took me to this, where you didn't tag me. What's going on, fimfiction?
That is all.
4695908
Magic?
cool cant wait for more!!!
This my friend... has potential, a lot, of potential,
Like and fav for sure!
4737157 Oh, that would be wonderful!
I would be very appreciative if you did. But you would be my first editor ever so I'm not that sure on how we go about doing this... 
Just send me a private message when you read this comment, and we will continue from there. Thanks again friend.
Really cool, I can't wait for the next chapter
Now I wanna watch the show
damm you
4742170
Sorry... Also, you should its an awesome show! I already finished the original, now I'm half way through Brotherhood.
Huh, this has potential since i luv both versions of Full Metal Alchemist
; altho i perfer FMA: Brotherhood then that other one 
. Anyways, i'll hold my judgement n' whatnot til we go further into t rabbit hole 