> Double Dragon
>  by SmegAndTheHeads
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Double Dragon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Double Dragon


Note: This one’s shorter than all the other stories I’ve created, and for good reason. Well, maybe not good reason, but reading the title, you can guess it’s a pun on the arcade classic, and something about changelings. Somewhat based on the Red Dwarf episode, 'Psirens'.

Ponyville had reached yet another sleepy nightfall, and the town was starting to head off to sleep, and all the stores were closing up for the night. Lights flickered off in the houses and curtains were closed. Ponyville was ready for another night of slumber, except for two certain villagers.

Rarity and Spike had both left the safety of their homes, lanterns in hand, and had trudged through the path through the Everfree Forest. The forest was said to be extremely dangerous during the night, with many creatures roaming the forest, and one wrong turn could lead to danger. However, this forest was also the home to some very rare treasures, such as gems and fossils. Rarity had a dress order to fill, and she needed some Everfree Purple Diamonds in order to make it. So, she took Spike into her possession, and headed to the forest.

Rarity and Spike headed down the forest path, Rarity’s horn glowing with magic, trying to find the diamonds she needed.
Spike asked, “Rarity, I know you need these diamonds for your dress, but why Everfree Diamonds? Don’t your customers know that you have to travel through thick and thin in order to get those?!”
Rarity added, “Yes, but Spike, my customer ordered very specifically that she needs Everfree Diamonds for her dress. I know this isn’t the safest place to get them, but it’s the only place to get them.”
“Couldn’t she have asked for Baby Blue Diamonds? They’re much safer to find, and they look spectacular.”
“Spike, hush, these gems are very important, and we must find them. I don’t care if you don’t think it’s safe, it’s our job to find these—“
Rarity’s horn started to glow brightly. “Ah-ha, found some!”

Spike put down his lantern and walked towards the glowing spot. He started to dig rapidly at the ground, and eventually found the diamonds, holding them in his dirt-stained claws. Rarity’s eyes lit up as she took the gems and placed them in a small bag.

Spike climbed out of the small hole, “Do you think there’s more?”
Rarity scanned the area, her horn glowing suddenly, and the ground lit up. She pointed to the west. “Over there, that looks like a nice little bundle.”
Spike saluted and ran to the patch. He started to dig at the ground.
He stopped suddenly, and Rarity looked at the dragon. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes, I think something’s got to here first.”
She shined her lantern at the dragon, “What do you mean? Are the gems still there?”
“Oh yeah, they’re here. It’s just that I think this hole has been used.”
She sniffed the air. There was a foul, dungy smell hanging in the air. “Eww, that’s just gross!”
“I also may need to wash my hands when I get back.”

Rarity gagged in her mouth, and took the gems from the hole using her magic. She wasn't one to wipe off the dung from the gems, and just put them in her bag, trying to walk away from the smell lingering in the air.

Suddenly, Rarity heard a rustle in the bushes near her. 
“Spike, is that you?”
He replied, “No, I’m near the hole. What is it?”
She whispered back, “I don’t want to alarm you, darling, but I think there’s something in the bushes...”
Spike headed towards her and shone the lantern at the bushes. The thing in the bushes dashed to another bush. Spike jumped at the creature’s movement, “Yikes, this guy’s fast!”
Rarity whispered, “What do you think it is?”
A bush in front of them rustled, he replied, “I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.”

They shone the lanterns in front of the bush, and out hopped a changeling, with glowing purple eyes, huge, sharp teeth and a black, thin body. It hissed at the couple, and the couple leapt back in fright.
Rarity squeaked, “Ah, a changeling! What a horrid creature!”
Spike shone the lantern at the creature, “I thought we got rid of these things.”
“I thought that, but some of them must have survived.”

Spike stood up to the creature, passing his lantern to Rarity, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this...”
Spike yelled and charged at the creature, the changeling stood firm, as Spike tackled him into the bush, sending them hurtling into the bushes. The two grappled each other, Spike scratching the creature with his claws, and the changeling attempting to bite him. Spike thought he had the upper hand, until the beast caught him unaware and pinned him down, head butting the dragon’s head. Spike was caught, battered and bruised, blood streaming from his mouth and nose.
The changeling smiled as it transformed into the dragon, giving him a swift punch to the jaw, knocking Spike out cold. 

The fighting died down, and Rarity called from the bushes, “Spike, are you okay?”

The fake Spike limped from the bushes, clutching his bloodied nose, “Don’t worry; he won’t be bugging us anymore.”
Rarity grabbed the beaten dragon, “Oh goodness, you’re bleeding. You took quite a beating, Spikey.”
He smiled, “Yeah, anything to protect you, Rarity.”
She smiled as well, hugging the dragon, “Aw, my brave little soldier. Let’s get you back to the shop; I’ve had enough of this scary forest anyway.”
He climbed onto Rarity’s back, “Sounds good to me, let’s go.”

The two walked down the path and out of the forest, walking towards Rarity’s shop. A few moments later, the real Spike woke up, still remaining in the bushes. He clambered out of the shrubs, clutching one of his arms, blood trailing from the edge of his mouth.
He called out Rarity’s name, “Rarity? Rarity?!”
He limped down the path, and walked slowly back to the shop, so that he can hopefully fix all of this mess.

Meanwhile, in Carousel Boutique, Spike was sitting on the edge of the modelling podium, where Rarity was tending to Spike’s wounds. 
She said, “Spike, I was so worried about you when you tackled that, ghastly creature, knowing you weren’t going to take it on yourself. I was wrong about you; you are a brave, strong dragon.”
He blushed, “Thanks, Rarity. It means a lot to me.”
She scoffed, “It means a lot to you? Look who’s the brash dragon.”
He chuckled, smiling as Rarity bandaged his leg. Rarity smiled, “There, that should do it.”
He got off the podium, and hugged Rarity. She smiled and hugged the dragon, saying, “It must have been pretty scary fighting that horrid creature, wasn’t it?”
He replied, “Yeah, it was. Well, we got the diamonds now, and we won’t have to worry about anymore changelings whatsoever.”

As soon as he finished his sentence, three knocks came from the door.
Rarity walked towards the door, “Oh, who could that be at this time of night?”
She opened the door to find a battered and annoyed Spike.

He said harshly, “Why did you leave me in the forest, Rarity? I could have died!”
Rarity was shocked to see Spike at her front door, “Spike?! But... but you’re here!”
Spike replied, “Don’t believe him, he’s the changeling, he must have returned to finish the job!”
The other Spike said to Rarity, “Rarity, did you take the changeling home? What are you doing just standing here, finish him off!”
“Rarity, you can’t believe this faker’s lies, get rid of him, he’s a threat to this whole town!”
“I know you know what’s right for you, Rarity. Get rid of the imposter, stop this madness before he lets loose in Ponyville!”
"Don't listen to him, I'M the real Spike!"
"He's lying, I'M the real Spike!"
"No, I am!
"No, I AM!"
"No, I am!
"No! I AM!

Rarity watched the two bicker about who’s the real Spike and eventually just couldn’t take the amount of noise and just shouted, “ENOUGH!!”
The two dragons silenced at Rarity’s words, and she added, “Sorry for that, but you two bicker so much. Now, one of you is the fake, so I must find him out.”
She thought for a moment, and suddenly hit a brainwave.
She asked, "You two, stand over there..." She pointed to the podium.
The two Spikes walked over there and stood beside each other.

She levitated two pieces of scrolls and two quills towards the dragons. She asked them, “Now, write your name.”
The two dragons took the quills with their left hands and wrote their names on the scrolls. Rarity inspected the scrolls, they were identical.
She said, “Hmm, both left handed. Okay, now...”

Rarity asked them, “Now, name me a memory you’ve had with Twilight Sparkle.”
The left Spike said, “Do you remember the time when Twilight didn’t invite me to her birthday party? I’ll always remember that night like it was yesterday. We just sat and had a talk, forgiving each other for our mistakes.”
The right Spike added, “Yeah, and afterwards, we went kite-flying, and Twilight asked if Pinkie Pie could hold another party in honour of the one that Twilight wrecked. Good times.”
She said, “Okay, both have the same thoughts.”

She thought again, and hit another idea, surely one to stump the faker.
She asked, “Okay, do you two like me?”
She shook her mane and pulled a pose, looking her most fabulous, which left the two flabbergasted, giggling like idiots, tongues hanging out.
She said, “Okay, both think the same of me.” She was now getting frustrated that none of her ideas are working.
Rarity thought to herself, “This isn’t working. What do I need to do in order to find the faker? What makes my Spikey-Wikey tick?”

She tapped her chin with her hoof, and thought of a brainwave so brilliant, it stumped her as to how she thought she could come up with a brilliant plan.
She sat down, pulling a look so pitiful, even Fluttershy would think it’s a bit excessive. She sadly looked at the ground, tapping a hoof on the carpet.
The left Spike asked, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Rarity replied, “Oh, I’m just lonesome, that’s all...”
The right Spike added, “Lonesome? What do you mean?”
Rarity tapped the floor again, “I’m just looking for a nice, friendly dragon to cuddle up to."
Rarity looked at the two, her pupils large and sparkling, she pulled the cutest smile she could muster, and her cheeks turned a gentle pink as she blushed. 

The left Spike stood there, not knowing what to do next. The right Spike walked up to Rarity, put his hands around her, and gave her a large kiss, right on her lips. Rarity opened her eyes wide, the left Spike stood there in shock, watching Rarity get smooched by the other Spike.
The right Spike broke the kiss, “How was that, my love?”
Rarity smiled, “Oh, Spike...”
Rarity stroked Spike’s cheek with her right hoof, and placed it gently on his shoulder. She lifted her left hoof, looked at it for a short moment, and without another moment to spare, she punched Spike in the face, sending him flying halfway across the room.

Spike jumped back as the other Spike flew across the room, losing its disguise as the changeling hit the floor. The changeling laid there, dizzy from the punch.
Rarity said, “My little Spikey would never be so bold as to smooch me when I am lonesome, like some harem filly. The Spike I know is a gentle dragon, who would comfort me in my time of need, you complete brute!”
Spike walked to the changeling, “So, now Rarity knows who the faker is, how about we take out the trash, Rarity?”
Rarity smiled, “My pleasure, Spikey.”
The changeling looked at the two, its eyes widening as the couple punched the creature’s lights out.

Soon after, the changeling was stuffed into a trash can, and Rarity carried it to the edge of the forest. She dumped the trash at the edge of the forest, the changeling, now bruised from its beating, clambered to its feet.
Spike spat some fire at the creature, as it fled from their sights, into the forest. Spike smiled, feeling rather victorious.
He asked Rarity, “Hey, Rarity, how did you know I would never be like that when you were lonesome?”
Rarity smiled, “Because I know you, my little Spikey-Wikey. You’d rush to me, giving me a cuddle, comforting me like a big teddy bear.”
Spike blushed, replying, “Like this?”
Spike cuddled Rarity, not saying another word. Rarity replied, “Yes, like that.”
Rarity cuddled the little dragon, saying, “Now how about I make you some hot chocolate before bed?”
Spike replied, “Sounds good.”

The two walked towards the shop, the moon shining over them. The two had gone through a lot tonight, and it brought them just that little bit closer.


The End


(Hooray, I did this story in about 45 minutes at midnight, so apologies if it’s not that good. Comments and Criticism are appreciated.)