Dragons are feared creatures, portrayed as horrific monsters in every bedtime story that ponies have known from birth.
Spike is a dragon. And as time goes on, he grows more acutely aware of his monstrous side and wonders if the fabled beast is all he is meant to be.
His fears come to light one day while he his helping Rarity collect some gems. The two are attacked by a rogue Diamond Dog and Spike, acting in fear and anger, kills their attacker. Horrified at his actions, he flees into the Everfree Forest with the rest of the monsters. Now, it is up to Twilight and Rarity to find him and bring him back home, if they can prove to him that he is not the monster he believes himself to be.
Chapters (1)
I'm going to assume, so that we can skip a step, that you used the word 'pony' on purpose here. I... wouldn't do that, really. It makes it sound like the reason Spike is going to be okay is because he will act like a pony instead of acting like a dragon. ...Which I guess is sort of what you were going for... ugh, it's so hard to say what I mean. Let me put it simpler: I'd use the word 'creature' instead.
I really felt the inevitability of Spike changing and how it affected Twilight. I was scared along with Spike at his strange new impulses. I felt everything the characters felt just beautifully.
I'm a little surprised nopony pointed out that the very fact that Spike was horrified at what he'd done kind of proves he's not a monster, just by definition. Especially since that's been a theme in some of your Philip Finder stories.
I'm also a little concerned... what happens if the voices in Spike's head don't stop? I'm not confident that's fixed yet.
By the by, have you read It Takes a Village? This feels like a prequel to me.
7436952 That is a good point. I changed it to "gentleman," as that's something that Rarity calls him.
I'm glad that you liked this!
And no, I haven't read It Takes A Village. In fact, I don't think I'd ever even heard of that before.
This...
this was beautiful.
Good job.
7438277 Thank you!
7437986 Oh, that's even better than my idea.
It Takes a Village is about how Spike could grow up and stay in Ponyville and keep his friends and have things work out happily for (almost) everyone. It's high on the 'idealistic' side of the spectrum.
A great little story! I particularly liked the 'fear of growing up' aspect, approached from both sides.
One nitpick: the Tragedy tag doesn't belong, since the story isn't a tragic one (the tag references classical tragedy, eg. Romeo and Juliet).
Short and nice. Me like it.
7439776 Noted. I added the tragedy tag because it was intended to be a sad story, but I guess you're right. Thanks for liking it!
7440105 Am glad you like it!
Nooooooo! Turn to the dark side Spike!
Spike = Inuyasha
Think about it! Every other dragon appears to have complete mental control of their faculties other than SPIKE when in their giant forms! And it's the same with Inuyasha when compared with other demons who use their full demon forms!
Both Spike and Inuyasha cannot control what all the rest of their kind have no problem with!
THAT'S WHY SPIKE TURNED INTO A DOG WHEN HE WENT THROUGH THE MIRROR!! He's been Inuyasha all along!
The Descendant's influence shines through, but man, that was some whiplash! c.c;
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God bless the Descendant, I miss that man. He was a big influence on me when I was first starting as a writer.