> The Villain
>  by Gear Spring
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Remnants of the Fallen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m going to make them pay.

All is quiet in the crystal castle.  The halls are emptied as Princess Luna carries the midnight moon higher in the star-filled sky.  As the haunting pale glow pokes through the windows, it catches something lurking in the shadows.  Quickly, the figure retreats to the darkness, where he cannot be seen.  While he remains hidden, fierce emerald eyes pierce though the black, giving off their own light.  Carefully, the figure keeps in the veil of shadows as he seemingly glides along the floor.  At the end of the hall, he reaches a door that appears the same as all the rest.  Suddenly, the knob becomes illuminated in a greenish hue.  Slowly, it turns itself and opens, allowing the entity to wonder in.

The floor is carpeted by hundreds of scrolls.  Some are neatly tied in a red ribbon while others are sprawled open, nearly the length of the room itself.  Peering down at the unrolled parchment, the figure glares furiously.

Twilight Sparkle.  Is this another friendship lesson you have planned for your little protégé?

As if floating on the air, the figure guides his way up to the bed of a pony who is in the midst of a pleasant dream.  Poking through the blankets is a pink horn and a mop of violet hair.  He crawls up to the sleeping unicorn and draws back the sheets, finding her nuzzled into a plump pillow.  A smile is drawn across her face.

Starlight glimmer, his voice moves through the air like a wisp.  The prize pupil of the Princess of Friendship.  You seem so much at peace.  Have you forgotten, I wonder.  The pain your brought to other ponies just so they would feel as you did.  Perhaps I can help you remember the weight of your sins.

In the middle of the room, a haunting green glow erupts from the pages of a book as it hovers above the scrolls.  The tome is a thick leather with spikes crawling along its bindings.  As it hovers, its pages move on its own, stopping without warning.  The figure looks back to the spell book and grins.

Yes, that will work quite well…

Pony of traitor’s heart,
With pain hidden deep down,
Relinquish your happiness,
And suffer for all evil,

Starlight Glimmer began tossing and turning in her slumber.  The smile on her lips fade as she grits her teeth as if suffering from a headache.  A slight groan left her mouth, barely audible like a coo.  Watching her, the shadowy figure, looks back to the book.  Floating beside it is glass vial.  It makes its way over to the spell caster.  He takes ahold of it and places it by Starlight.  Tears start to swell through her closed eyes.  When she turns, a single droplet falls down her muzzle and drips into the glass.  Looking down at the distressed unicorn, he smiles.  A low hiss slips through his teeth.  He and the book both are swallowed by darkness, vanishing from the room.

Out in the hallway, the shadowy figure holds the vial aloft.

And now, the tear of a powerful unicorn.  All that remains is the fang of a draconequus.  And I know just how to get one…



Twilight Sparkle flutters to stay aloft over Ponyville.  Hovering, she looks down at her home, her castle as it also is levitating in the air upside down.  Spinning on its highest tower, it looks more like a top.  Other buildings have joined in the flying, some spinning in various speeds and directions.  She can see that the apples at Sweet Apple Acres have changed colors.  Even far off, she can make out the oranges, purples, blues, and pinks.  Every color imaginable, except for those an apple actually is.  Near the barn there is a titan-sized Angel hopping after Big Mac.

A frown reaches her face, “Discord…”

Through the clouds comes a blue blur that speeds just past her, knocking Twilight out of the air.  Before she hits the ground, the culprit swoops down and grabs her out of the air.  Looking up, she sees Rainbow Dash smiling at her.

“Sorry, Twilight,” she helps her back up in the air, “It’s Discord.”

“What is he up to this time?”

“Well, it is not what he is up to,” Rainbow rubs the back of her mane.  “He’s just…well you better come with me and see it for yourself.”

The blue Pegasus flies off, leaving Twilight curious.  Following her friend to the center of Ponyville, he finds the rest of her friends.  They all have gathered around the Lord of Chaos, who appears to be rocking back and forth, holding his cheek.  The draconequus is rolling back and forth while he wails like a baby.  At his side is Fluttershy, who continues to try and console her friend in need.  No matter what she does, he cannot stop wailing.  A groan moves past his lips, and her hair turns into licorice.

“What’s wrong with him?” Twilight asks, while Pinkie Pie starts licking at Fluttershy’s tasty mane.

Discord picks up his head.  Watery, yellowed eyes look at her as he whimpers.  While colorful ribbons stream down his face, Twilight Sparkle spies the source of his agony.  The large fang that protrudes from the roof of his mouth is cracked.

“A toothache,” Twilight says bluntly, “All this chaos, because of a toothache.”

“Oh, Twilight,” he cries, “I am so glad you’re here.  I am in such pain!”

“Well, there is a dentist in town…”

Discord’s eyes widen, “No, not the dentist!  Anything but that!”

Fluttershy pats his horns while he curls up and sucks his thumb, “Discord is terrified of the dentist.  Um, do you think you could use a spell to remove it?”

Twilight sighs, “Alright.  Spike…”

Waddling up to the princesses’ side is the baby dragon, “Yes, Twilight?”

“Could you go back to the Palace Library and get me a copy of the Big Book of Beasts.  I believe there is a spell to remove the fang.”

Spike looks off in the distance, watching the castle swirl in circles, “Uh, Twilight, uh, how am I supposed to get up there?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Twilight reassures him.  “I would go, but I have to stay here and help Discord deal with his pain.”

Spike lets out a sigh, but he scurries off to the castle.  About an hour later, the little dragon returns carrying a book roughly the size of him.  It is covered in fur and the spine is layered in teeth.  When Twilight sees him, she floats the book from his claws over to her.  Flipping through the pages, she reads over a spell, and gives a nod before closing the book.

“Okay, Discord,” she says.  “You might feel a slight pinch.”

Her horn becomes aglow with a pink light.  The same aura encompasses Discord’s tooth.  The draconequus cringes as his tooth pops out and falls to the ground.  He stands up and smiles.  When he does, another fang pops out of the gums.  Gong over to Twilight, he gives her a huge bear hug.

“Oh thank you Twilight!  You are such a great friend!”

“You’re welcome, Discord,” she squeaks, her ribs cracking in his clutches.

Fluttershy flies beside him, and gives him a slight pat on the cheek, “And no more taffy for you.”

Twilight looks at him with her eyebrow raised, “Taffy, that’s what caused this?”

“Well you could say that I have a sweet tooth,” he chuckles.  “Or, should I say that I had a sweet tooth.  Well, it was the strangest thing.  The other day a huge box of taffy showed up at my door.  I don’t know where it came from, but I just couldn’t help but having a piece or two hundred.”

“Well, just try to be more careful,” Twilight remarks.  “I don’t think Ponyville could handle something like this again.”

“Again, I am really sorry.”

“It’s okay, Discord,” she says sympathetically.  Then she turns to Spike, “Could you take the fang back to the castle.  I know there is a spell or two in one of my books that requires one.”

“Okay,” he waddles up and takes it.  “I’ll see you back at the palace then.”

He turns around, but every pony is gone.


The moon falls over the town.  In the depths of the castle, the figure of shadows has returned.  Standing before the thrones of the Friendship Council, he has the damaged fang at his feet.  Other objects have been gathered, including the vial that contains the tear of Starlight Glimmer.  The dark tome floats beside him, enveloped in the green hue.

The time has come.  Revenge is mine, little ponies.  You have fared well against many a foe.  They were ultimately undone because they were incomplete.  Now, I shall craft the ultimate villain against
The Nightmare of Luna,

The Fang of Discord

The Locks of Chrysalis

The Horn of Umbra

The Amulet of Tirek

And finally, the Tears of Starlight Glimmer…

The floating tome quakes as the six objects are enveloped in the green glow.  The shadowy figure watches as the items float through the air before being swallowed up by the book.  It glows brighter until the green light covers the entire surface of the spell book.  It casts its glow over the little dragon.  Spike smiles as the spell causes the entire castle to tremble.  His body begins to transform.  Sinister cackling fills the castle as a new villain is born.

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

His head was swimming once the spell finished casting.  When he touches his forehead, he is alarmed that his scales are gone and are replaced by fur.  He checks his hands, shocked to find that they have become hooves.  Touching face, he traces the long stallion muzzle all the way up to the horn protruding from his skull.  The hooves continue along the back of his neck, feeling the long flowing mane.

“I did not expect to become a unicorn,” even his voice is deeper fitting his new body.  “I suppose with half the materials belonging to ponies, it would make sense.”

Suddenly, the lights turn on in the hall.  The door to Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom flings open, and he can see her shadow stretching out onto the carpet.

No, he curses under his breath.  I cannot let he find me out so soon.

He extends his hoof to run, but it melts into shadow when it touches the floor.  Shadow envelops his entire body, transforming him into an umbral creature.  In his smoke-like form he slips through the cracks of a nearby door.  The princess walks in the halls, finding it empty.  Rubbing her mane curiously, she shrugs and closes the door.  The hallway is again blanketed in night.

Inside, the umbral form solidifies back into a unicorn.  The room is fortunate enough to have a mirror, showing the pony he has become.  His coat is an ashen gray while his mane is black with a few blue stripes coursing down his back.  Looking at his flank, he finds the mark of a dragon skull hidden in the crescent moon.  There are stars decorating around the moon itself.

“An interesting mark,” he surmises, “I see there are some resemblances of the others in this new body.”

A smile comes, revealing longer fangs.

“The only thing that is left of me are my eyes,” he looks closely in the mirror.  “And yet, I wonder.”

Closing his eyes, he concentrates.  There is a flash of green light that swallows the room.  When it fades, he opens his eyes.  Now standing in the mirror is his baby dragon self once more.

“It looks like I inherited more than just looks,” he grins.  “All of their powers belong to me.”

Transforming into his unicorn-self, he smiles again.

“I think I know just what to do…”



An uproar stirs Twilight Sparkle from her slumber.  Crawling out from under the sheets, she shakes the slumber from her mane.  The chorus of a dozen ponies continue to sing from outside her castle.  With a yawn, she teleports to the front doors.  Pushing them open, she finds nearly half of the town standing in her lawn.  Many have looks of fright while others are only bitterness.

“What’s wrong every-pony?” she asks, walking down the steps to join them.

“It was horrible,” a bearded pony she recognizes as the town’s builder.  “He came out of nowhere in the middle of the night and laid half of Ponyville to waste.”

“Who?” Twilight wonders.

“Tirek,” the crowd shouts in unison.

“What?” the princess gasps.  “That’s impossible, he was banished back to Tartarus after we defeated him.  Are you sure it was him?”

It is the mayor that steps forward, “Every-pony I have talked to says they saw the same thing.  And I saw him with my own eyes.  I will never forget the look of that centaur for the rest of my life.”

This is not good, Twilight thought while she chewed on her bottom lip.  If Tirek escaped again, we better find him before he sucks up the power of all of Equestria.  I don’t know if we can summon that power from the Tree of Harmony once more.

“Please, everyone, settle down,” she calls out to the disturbed crowd.  “I will speak with Princess Celestia about the matter.  In the meantime, please remain calm.  We will get down to the bottom of this.”

There are murmurs among the other ponies as the princess closes the doors to her castle.  Stepping through the halls, she sees a small purple dragon coming out of one of the many doors in this maze-like castle.  She runs to him.

“Spike!” she shouts as she nearly collides with him.

“Twilight?” he tilts hi head, “What’s wrong, you look like you saw a ghost.”

“That’s exactly what happened,” she says.  “I need you to send a letter to Princess Celestia immediately.”

“Is it that serious?”

“Yes,” she says.

Spike is forced to follow the distressed princess into her throne room.  Following up behind her is the baby dragon.  With a quill and scroll already in hand, he waits for Twilight Sparkle to recite a message meant for Celestia.

“Dear Princess Celestia,” she starts as per usual.  “I have dire news.  Ponies in Ponyville have been reporting signs of Tirek attacking during the night.  I need to find out if he has somehow escaped from Tartarus.  Please, let me know as soon as you find out.  Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.  Did you get all that, Spike?”

“Of course,” he says by finishing the message with a final dot on the scroll.  Rolling it up, he wraps it neatly in a red ribbon.  He takes a deep breath and spews green flames from his mouth.  The embers lick at the paper before igniting it in the same emerald hue.  The paper is reduced to ash, and then is blown along the breeze right out a window.  Both he and Twilight watch as it is carried off by the magical stream of air.

Twilight looks at him nervously, “How long do you think she’ll take to—”

A dragon-belch cuts her off as Spike spews a scroll similar to the one he just burned.

“Oh, that was quick,” she smiles.

It is enveloped in her magic as she unfurls it to read the message from her fellow princess.

Dear Princess Twilight, she reads to herself, I am troubled by the news that is occurring in Ponyville, but I assure you that Tirek is not behind the attacks.  I have paid a visit to our friend in Tartarus, and found him to still be caged.  Cerberus has been quite adamant at his guard duties as of late.  I think he might still feel ashamed for letting Tirek slip through the first time.  I find it troubling that there is some-pony posing as Tirek.  If you ever need help, Twilight, please let me know.  Sincerely yours, Princess Celestia.

“Well, what does it say?” Spike asks.

“It’s not him,” Twilight sighs.  “Not the real him anyways.  What we might be dealing with an imposter.”

“Well, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to watch Ponyville closely tonight, in case he decides to come back.  And when he does, I will find out who he really is.”



While ambitious, Twilight Sparkle is in a deep slumber just before the moon reaches the deathly quiet sky.  As she is in a deep sleep, a blanket wrapped in a haunting green glow is draped over her, keeping the chilling dark winds away.  Reaching her side is Spike taken on the guise of his new body.  His fierce emerald eyes look upon the princess.

You sleep far too sweetly, Twilight, he looks at her with contempt.  It would be so easy to slit your throat right now, or rob you of your breath, but I won’t.  No, that would cut short the delicious revenge.  I will not waste your life when I have much more planned for you.

He grins as he marches forward to the edge of the balcony.  Looking down, he sees that they are hundreds of feet above.  The front hooves reach over the railing, as he kicks his back legs and plummets down to the ground below.

“Princess Twilight!” a deep, booming voice shakes her from her sleep.

Eyes flutter open only to gaze upon the colossal form of Lord Tirek towering over her and her castle.  She takes fight just in time as his enormous fist crashes into the balcony.  Rocks and debris crashes down, smashing the topiary.  The princess soars overhead, the tip of her horn emits a small dot of magical energy.  It grows rapidly to the size of a bowling ball before she points it at Tirek.  A beam rips through the night air and crashes down upon the centaur.  He flinches for a moment, but then bats it away.  The beam redirects upwards to the sky and is lost in the abyss.

“Is that all you have?” he guffaws.  “Where is that power from before?”

Between his horns, a giant ball of fiery magic forms and he answers with a laser of his own.  Twilight spirals out of the way, but becomes encased in that same orange-like glow of his magic.  He throws his arms downwards, and the princess is dragged from the sky.  Before her body hits the ground, Tirek snatches her up and puts the squeeze on her.  She lets out a painful cry that fills the night.

“Without the magic of the other princesses, you’re nothing,” he mocks.  “You are nothing.  You have always been nothing…”

He squeezes harder, forcing tears to run down her face.  Through her watery eyes, she looks on the smiling centaur, and shakes her head.

“You’re wrong,” she says softly.  “Even when you had the alicorn magic, you still couldn’t win.  I have much more than that.  I have the magic of my friends. And there is nothing you have that can overcome that!”

Suddenly, Tirek is repelled backwards by a magical force.  Blinding light makes him shield his eyes until the glowing ceases.  When he looks, he finds Twilight encompassed in color.  Her mane long and flowing.  A magical aura glitters around her.

That’s impossible, Spike gnashes his teeth as Tirek.  She is able tap into the rainbow magic without the others being present?

A purple star forms in front of Twilight Sparkle.  She fires a magical beam, and the laser amplifies once it passes through the star.  It strikes him and knocks him back.

Dammit, I underestimated her…

Just before she attacks him again, the giant centaur turns to black smoke and disperses.  The princess looks down confused as the entire body disappears without a trace.  Her eyes scan the area, and that is when she spots some-pony.  Standing on the rooftop is a unicorn with eyes of emerald.

“Hey, you!” she calls out to him.

But he vanishes into the darkness.

> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, what you’re telling us is that it wasn’t Tirek,” Apple Jack questions.

Surrounded by her friends, the princess looks down at the drink sitting before her.  She taps the tea with the tip of her hoof, watching her reflection ripple and distort before returning back to normal.

“I’m not sure what I saw,” she says, her voice a little disheartening.  “When I was fighting Tirek, he suddenly disappeared.  I saw a pony watching me from the rooftop.”

“How is that possible, darling?” Rarity asks.

“I’m not sure myself,” Twilight rubs her muzzle, and then turns to Starlight Glimmer, “Have you ever heard of a spell that allows you transform like that?”

“There are some minor illusionary spells I know of,” her protégé speaks up.  “But the way you described it, they were able to be a perfect copy of him.  Aside from changeling magic, I don’t know of a spell that can do that.”

“Um, does that mean we’re dealing with Queen Chrysalis again?” Fluttershy cowers under the table. 

“I don’t know,” the princess says.  “If we are, I want to know why she would bother turning into Tirek.”

“Maybe they teamed up?”

All the ponies look in the direction to see Spike waddling up to the table pushing a cart filled with teacakes.  A violet hue covers the plate and floats the treats over to each pony.  When it returns to the cart, the baby dragon frowns as there are only crumbs that greet him.

“You may have a point, Spike,” Twilight Sparkle.  “If that’s the case, maybe I need to pay Tirek a visit.”

“Hold up,” Rainbow Dash slams her hooves down on the table, “You are just going to waltz to Tartarus and chat with Tirek?”

“It may sound crazy, but what other choice do I have?” the princess asks.

“I’m not saying it’s crazy, I just wanted to know if I could come.  It sounds so awesome.”

Twilight smiles, “Alright, Rainbow Dash.  So while Rainbow and I have a chat with Tirek, I want the rest of you to keep your eyes peeled.  I feel there is some-pony behind this whole thing.”

Spike smiles as he takes the cart, wheeling out of the room.


Now that Twilight has gone away, perhaps I can have a bit of fun with her friends.

In the middle of the day, he trots among the other ponies without any glance.  Bathed in his new body, he seemingly blends in with the others in town.  Emerald green eyes glint as he stands before a towering building, layered like a cake.  On the second floor are wooden horses dancing about in a circle.  He marches to the entrance and pushes open the door.

Inside the shop there are many dresses hanging by the one side of the circular structure.  On another side there are several mirrors all centered around a pedestal.  As he closes the door, a bell rings loudly.  Toward the back of the store, a pony with a snow white coat trots out.  Spike stops, his heart thumping as Rarity stands before him.  For the first time in his life, she has to look up at him.

“Hello darling welcome—,” her words trail off when she looks at him.  “Oh my, who might you be?”

“I’m Spi—” he catches himself.  No, Spike was that weak little dragon you thought so little of.  I must come up with something better than that.  “My name is Thorn Eclipse, but please just call me Thorn.”

She giggles, color rising to her cheeks, “Okay, well, Mister Thorn, what can I do for you today?”

“Please, Thorn is just fine,” he speaks charmingly.  “I am looking for something to keep my neck warm for the approaching winter.  I heard that you are quite the skilled seamstress.”

“Oh my, thank you” she giggles.  “I believe I have quite the outfit, if you excuse me a moment.”

Rarity trots into the backroom, leaving Thorn to smile to himself.

After all these years, the way she looks at me is what I’ve wanted, he shudders, feeling something well up inside him.  This sensation in my chest, I can feel my power growing.  It’s more than what I’ve felt with her before.  Could it be my changeling side?

Not much time passes when the pony of his dreams walks out with a scarf floating at her side.  Her magic unfolds it, showing that bright red cloth is stitched as if it were a flame dancing.

“This will certainly match your beautiful coat,” she smiles.  “And I have a feeling flames ae quite your style.”

“Indeed they are,” he grins as he walks up to her.  “I thank you for your help.”

“Oh you know,” he flushes, as her magic drapes the scarf about his neck.

He feels a warmth run through him, “If you are not busy later, I would like to tour Ponyville.  I’d want a lovely guide to show me some sights, perhaps.”

She giggles, “Well I suppose I could close the carousel a little early, for you that is.”

I cannot believe this is actually happening, he thinks, keeping his composure the best he can.  “I thank you for that.”

Again she lets out a cheerful giggle, “Why don’t you take a look in the mirror so you can see for yourself.”

Nodding, the dashing unicorn picks himself up on the pedestal.  Staring at him are three other versions of Thorn draped in his new scarf.  The design looks as if his neck is wrapped in fire.  He cannot help but smile.  In the center mirror, he catches Rarity staring at him with longing eyes.  That is when the smile fades from his muzzle.

Those eyes, they are the same I had when I pathetically pined for you, he thinks bitterly.  Now that I have you looking at me the same way, I realize how vein you are.  You care only for my appearance.  Well then, Rarity, how will you feel when your heart is broken.

Stone-faced, he steps away from the mirrors, “I’ll take it, how much will it cost?”

“Well,” she smiles, “Shall we call it a gift?”

Uncaringly, he says, “I suppose we shall.”

“Where shall I meet you later?”

“Sweet Apple Acres,” he says, a devious grin spread across his mouth.  “I hear they have superb treats.”

Without another word to her, he trots out of the Carousel Boutique, slamming the door behind him as he leaves.


At the farm, he finds Apple Jack at work bucking apples out of the trees.  It is a single kick that clears the branches of the delicious fruit.  Most of them fall into the buckets below, but one gets away, bouncing off the lip and rolling on the ground.  A greenish hue hugs the apple as it floats back to join the others.  Apple Jack turns to find a unicorn approaching her.

“Howdy there,” she greets him, “Thank you for the assist.  I don’t reckon I’ve seen you around here before.”

“I just arrived in Ponyville today,” he says.  “My name is Thorn Eclipse, what is yours?”

“Apple Jack,” she says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I’d have more time to chat, but I’m mighty busy.”

“Perhaps I can help,” Thorn offers.

Walking over to a small clearing in the fields of apple trees, he rears back on his back hooves.  His horn begins to glow, and the same magic envelops the bottoms of his front legs, emitting a light in the shape of horseshoes.  Grinning to himself, he stomps down.  The fields quake as a seismic ripple reaps through the farm.  Apple Jack falls flat as the hundreds of trees lose their apples.  A reddish rainstorm cascades onto the grassy floor, but are swept into the hundreds of buckets laid out already.

“Golly,” she gets back on her hooves.  “How the plum tuck-it did you do that?”

“I’m pretty strong,” he says, “I just used a little magic to amplify the quake.”

“Well you certainly saved me a heaping heck of work,” she says.  “Guess I got time now to chat.”

“Excellent…”

When their eyes meet again, Thorn’s flash red.  Apple Jack stiffens as her eyes turn the same shade.  Her eyes return to normal, but they become more longing as they fall upon the unicorn.  A loving sigh leaves her lips as she stares at him with a smile.

“You know, I’ve never really met quite the dashing stallion before,” she says.  “And you are so strong too.  It’s hard to find such a strong male round here.”

“You are too kind, Miss Apple Jack,” he smiles.  “Would you like to walk with me?  I am actually supposed to meet someone near the farm.”

“I suppose I can,” she says giddily.

The two of them walk together to the fence bordering Sweet Apple Acres.  As the sun is going down, Thorn spies Rarity making her away toward them.  He turns to Apple Jack and smiles.  Again his eyes spark crimson, and hers does the same.  All of a sudden, she is throwing herself at him, pressing her muzzle against his.  He acts surprised, trying to resist her approach.  Parting, both of them look to find a devastated-looking Rarity.

“Thorn,” she gasps, “How could you?”

“I did nothing,” he defends himself.  “She came onto me.”

“How could you choose her over me?”

Apple Jack seems to snap from the trance, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“No offense, Apple Jack, but he requires a pony with a bit more elegance.”

“Thorn likes a pony who can handle herself.   Not some dolled up prissy pants.”

“Why, I never.”

“Of course you never.  You never had to deal with a colt who likes a real pony.”

“Country bumpkin.”

“Stuck-up fool!”

The two begin slinging insults at one another, while Thorn stands there, smiling silently to himself.  By his sight, he can watch a strange energy spew from their bodies as they fight for his affection.  It is like a violet wisp that lingers on the ground before seeping into his body.  It strengthens him, energizes him.  He tries to hide his smile, but it is too much to contain his feelings.

I shall crush your friendship bit-by-bit, Twilight Sparkle.  And when you can no longer use the Magic of Friendship, that is when I will tear everything apart.

> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a moment, Twilight Sparkle dozes off.  She starts to fall out of the sky, jarring her awake again.  Violet wings flutter wildly like a bat to gain altitude once more.  Once she is stable, her eyes droop again, a yawn leaving her mouth.  Warmth hits her back as the rising sun follows her to Ponyville.  She shakes her head trying to rattle the sheepishness away.

It took all night to climb out of Tartarus, she yawns again.  Tirek has been in his cage and I’m the only one that has come to visit.  Cerberus has not left his post either.  So that means that the mysterious pony has no allegiance with Tirek.  After some sleep I’ll continue…

The tiredness in her body is ruptured when she looks upon Ponyville from above.  Ponies run frantically about town as the vicious vines reach out and try to ensnare them.  Screams of those capture echo in the morning sky.

“What the,” she is at a loss, “The Ever-free Forest, again?”

While her wings feel heavy, she forces herself to soar up into the sky.  Away from town is the small cottage of her friend, Fluttershy.  Down below, the yellow Pegasus is herding her animal into her house.  Bunnies bound away as the vines draw closer.  Taking up the rear is the bear, who scoops up Fluttershy in his furry arms and runs inside.  Angel is at the door, and slams it shut as the vines crawl up on the walls.  Green thorns burrow into the rock as the tendrils swarm over her home.

Twilight Sparkle drops from the sky and is immediately surrounded by the thorn tentacles.  Like snakes they seem to swarm her, coiling at her hooves.  She winces at the pain, but her horn is aghast in magic.  A spell blasts the vines away, freeing her from her grasp.  Focusing her spell, it explodes outwards in a dome, eradicating all the other nearby foliage.  Quickly, she turns to the do and knocks.

“W-Who’s there?” she hears Fluttershy quiver.

“It’s me, Twilight,” the princess shouts.  “These are the same vines Discord caused.  Have you seen him around?”

The door opens, and her yellow head pokes outside, “No, he hasn’t been around today.  Which is weird, since he was supposed to come by for tea today.”

“Oh really…”

“You don’t think he did it,” Fluttershy says.  “He’s learned his lesson after the incident with Tirek.”

Twilight is struck by a thought, “Don’t you think it is a bit strange that Ponyville was attacked by a fake Tirek, and now it is being attacked by these vines.”

“Um, I guess so.”

“You know what they both have in common, don’t you?” Twilight glares, “Discord.”

“Wait,” Fluttershy objects, “We don’t know that he is responsible for this.”

“Either way we need to put a stop to these vines from taking over the entire town,” Twilight takes flight, hovering over the cottage.  “I’ll go get Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie while you get Apple Jack and Rarity.”

Before Fluttershy can speak another word, the Princess of Friendship soars into the clouds.


In the center of town, Twilight, Rainbow, and Pinkie have gathered.  All three search the skies for Fluttershy, but there is no sign of their quiet friend.  Meanwhile the vines have continued to linger closer.  A beam of magic blasts some away, but soon spiked vines start floating in the sky like clouds.  Lightning casts down at them, making the princess jump out of the way. Rainbow Dash flies up and bucks it out of the way, but is immediately zapped when she does.  Falling to the earth, Pinkie Pie comes to the rescue with a giant pie.  The Pegasus splatters in the whipped cream.

“Thanks Pinkie,” she pokes her head out of the custard, it clings to her mane.

Hopping over to Rainbow Dash, she licks the gooey treat off her, “Yum, you’re welcome.”

“Girls, focus,” Twilight shouts, shooting another beam of magic.  Where are the others?  Maybe I should have Rainbow Dash…

She fails to finish that thought when she spies Fluttershy floating down to them like a leaf on a breeze.  Distraught is painted across her face.

“Fluttershy,” Twilight speaks, “Where are Rarity and Apple Jack?”

“Um,” she looks away, “They said they’re not coming.”

“What?” Rainbow leaps out of the pie.  “Don’t they realize the town is under attack?”

“Yes, but, um,” she shies away, “They said they don’t want to be near the other.”

Twilight sighs, “We’ll have to deal with that later.  Fluttershy, get as many ponies to town hall as possible.  We’ll set up a defense here.”

“Do you think something to the Tree of Harmony?” Pinkie Pie asks.

“No,” Twilight says.  “I checked that place before coming to grab either of you.”

Rainbow looks confused, “Then who—hey!”

Without her realizing, a plunder vine lassoes her leg and throws her to the ground.  Others swarm around her, pinning her to the ground.  Her wings are hugged tightly as she groans from the thorns digging into her body. 

“Rainbow Dash!”

Twilight charges up a spell when a vine snakes around her horn and throws her to the ground.  Another pounces on her, hogtying her wings to her legs.  She looks over to find Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy in the same predicament.  Of course, the pinker of the two seems less in turmoil, as she swings upside down with a smile on her face.

Oh no, I don’t know what to do, she cringes as the vines tighten.  I got to get out or the town will be destroyed.

Suddenly, a blue light flashes throughout the entire town, and the girls are free.  They look about in a state of confusion until they see another pony walking up to them.  Her pink dark violet hair hangs to the side, until she brushes it back.  A soft, sincere smile is pressed on her mouth.

“Starlight!” Twilight shouts, jumping up and running to her protégé.  “Thank goodness you’re here.”

“Of course,” she answers.  “Ponyville is my home too now.”

Starlight Glimmer stands against the vines drawing closer.  Stomping her hoof, she casts another spell.  Bright flash of energy swarms across the town, pushing the tendrils back.  Yet, the plants charge again.

“They’re relentless,” Starlight proclaims.

“Still,” Twilight stands beside her, “We have to stop it from swarming Ponyville.”

“It looks like you might be in the need of my help.”

One of the vines drawing closer transforms into Discord.  The draconequus stands up to the plunder plants as they come at him like a wave.  Cracking his fingers, he transforms his attire to red robes.  A staff is gripped in his bird-like claw.  He grips the wooden staff in both hands, he slams it down to the ground.  The vines part before turning into water, splashing down onto the girls and the rest of the town before harmlessly sinking into the earth.

“There we go,” he turns, changing back to his usual appearance.  “No need to thank me.”

Shaking the water from her mane, Twilight stomps up to him, “We aren’t going to thank you, because this was clearly your fault!”

“My fault?” he is taken aback.  “You must be joking.”

“Those are the same vines from your plunder seeds.”

Discord holds his hands up defensively, “I assure you, those were not the same ones that sprouted up.  That was a more aggressive batch.  I never would put you ponies in harm’s way.”

“But Tirek might,” she says.

“I suppose,” Discord shrugs, “But I don’t see what that has to do with me.”

“You two were partners,” she glares, “You betrayed us before.  How do I know you aren’t doing that again?”

“I would never betray Fluttershy again,” he says, quickly moving to her side.  “I felt awful doing it.”

Touching his side, Fluttershy stands up to Twilight, “I believe him.”

“I’m sure you do, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Twilight says.  “He’s tricked us too many times before.  And this reeks of his doing.”

Fluttershy huffs, “For being the Princess of Friendship, you are not being a good friend.”

Twilight, and many of the other ponies are left in utter shock.  In the silence, Fluttershy flaps her wings, taking flight and leaves them.  Discord looks uncomfortably from her to the princess, before walking off, following the shy pony back to her cottage.


It has been quite the eventful day, Thorn thinks, walking the streets of Ponyville at dusk.  The roads are empty, and remnants of the plunder attack still linger on the walls of buildings.  Mixing Berserk Root with the Plunder Seeds truly paid off.  I had no idea the venom would affect them as well. Who knew Fluttershy had such wrath in her.

Looking up toward the setting sun, he says, “I know you are there, Discord.”

Casting shadow against the orange fireball are three bats, fluttering freely in the darkening sky.  The nocturnal beasts form together, and grow.  Discord drops down before the gray unicorn.

“I figured you would find me eventually,” Thorn Eclipse says with a smile.  “You can sense when there is disharmony in the world.  I can’t imagine the merging of six essences into one would slip off your radar.”

“Especially when one of those is mine,” he says sternly.  

Thorn chuckles, “Well, what can I say?  I am a bit of a fan.”

Discord scowls, “I don’t take kindly of being played for a fool, Spike.”

The smile fades, “How did you find out?”

“I remember the tooth you pilfered.”

Spike stomps closer, “Then I guess I’ll have to silence you before you tell the others.”

“Please,” Discord grins, “I’m the Lord of Chaos, you only have a fraction of my power.”

There is a glint in his emerald eyes, “But you forget that I am made up of many fractions…”

Suddenly, Discord is brought to his knees as his essence is ripped from his body.  Like Lord Tirek, Thorn consumes it, growing stronger.  In a matter of seconds, the draconequus is on the ground, weakened as the unicorn stands over him.

“I cannot have you around, Discord,” he says with a pitied look.  “You are…too chaotic to contain.”

The tip of his horn glows in several colors before a beam hits the weakened Chaos Lord.  Discord struggles to move, but ultimately succumbs as his body is turned to stone.  A look of regret is forever etched in the rock.  Thorn rears his head back as his horn becomes illuminated again.  Pointing it at the statue, he blasts it to bits.

A sinister laugh erupts from his throat, “Goodbye, Discord…”

> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

My strength has grown tremendously since I devoured Discord’s essence.  There is a part of me that now feels whole.  The other fractures of myself now hunger for theirs.  Fortunately, there is a certain villainous unicorn with the key of uniting these parts.  But before I take her too, perhaps I shall continue the rift between the friends.

“Good morning Twilight,” Starlight Glimmer speaks as she hears the doors open. 

When she turns to greet her mentor with a smile, her face contorts to an uncomfortable one.  The princess has her mane disheveled, tuffs of hair jolting out in any direction it pleases.  Deep bags hang under her eyes while veins redden around her violet gaze. 

“Oh my,” she says, throwing her mouth over her hoof to repel her gasp.  “Are you alright?”

Twilight yawns as she scratches her head, “Just a little tired is all.  I guess with everything that has been happening lately, I have been finding it hard to fall asleep.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

“No,” she shakes her head.  “Unless you have some clue as to who is behind these attacks recently.”

“I thought you said it was Discord?”

“I did,” she sighs, “But I received a letter from Princess Celestia that he was telling me the truth.  Now he has gone missing.”

“Well,” Starlight smiles, her horn aghast in light as a book floats onto the table.  Flipping through the pages, she stops at one, “After spending a few hours in the library, I discovered this spell.  It looks like it might explain what has been happening.”

Twilight walks up to the tome, puzzled by the bindings, “That’s strange, I’ve never seen this book before.  Where did you say you found it?”

“I stumbled across it in the library,” she explains, “It was magically disguised as another book.  Anyways, this spell here combines essence of several creatures into one being.”

“So what you are saying is some-pony has used this spell to become Part-Tirek?”

“It could be more,” Starlight suggests.  “There is no limit to the number of specimens a pony can infuse with, but there is a risk.  The—”

The doors to the castle are blasted open by a blue blur.  Starlight Glimmer is ripped from her spot at the table, and is slammed against the crystal wall.  It fractures behind her, as an infuriated Rainbow Dash has the unicorn pinned with the side of her hoof.  She brings back the other, unbridled fury filling her gaze.

“Rainbow Dash!” Starlight Glimmer manages to force out enough words.  “What are you doing?”

“Rainbow Dash, stop it!” Twilight barks.

She fails to listen to either, her hoof flying forward to pummel the pink pony.  Thinking quickly, the princess’ horn flashes with magic, and her pupil disappears.  The Pegasus’ hoof slams into the wall, sending cracks sprawling outward.  Rainbow realizes her target is gone, and searches for her prey.  She discovers Starlight running toward the open door.  Opening her wings, she quicks off the wall, soaring straight for her.  Twilight shoots a beam of pink at her friend.  It manages to hit her midflight, causing her to freeze in the air.

“Twilight,” Rainbow Dash tries to fidget, but is unable to move, “What are you doing?”

“I should be asking you the same thing, Rainbow,” the princess frowns.  “Why are you attacking Starlight?  She is one of us now, remember?”

“She’s nothing, but a traitor,” she shouts.  

“What are you taking about?”

“Put me down, and I’ll show you.”


Rainbow Dash takes Twilight and Starlight into Ponyville.  Everything appears normal until they arrive at Sugarcube Corner.  Standing just outside the bakeshop is there friend who is looking like a deflated version of her usual bouncy self.  Pinkie Pie sighs as she opens the door for some ponies coming in for a tasty treat.  When the girls approach, they notice that even her vibrant coat appears a bit lackluster.

“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight looks at her with concern, “What happened?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Rainbow says, “Just take a look at her flank.”

The princess does take a gander at her friend’s rump.  Instead of the bubbly balloons there is an eerie equal sign.  The sight alone sends a shiver down her spine, but then her eyes wonder from the new cutie mark to her pupil.  Starlight shifts her gaze from the flank to her teacher.  There is a horrifying look upon her muzzle.

“No,” she backs away from Twilight and Rainbow, “You cannot possibly think I was the one who did this?  Twilight, you can’t think I did this?”

“Of course we think you did this,” Rainbow blurts out, “You are the one who used that spell on us before.  So what, did you decide you wanted to pick us off one-by-one this time?  Or did you find Pinkie Pie just a bit too happy for you?”

“No, of course not, I would never do this,” Starlight shakes, “You girls are my friends…”

Twilight drops her head and sighs, “Starlight…”

“No,” tears well up in her eyes.  “You have to believe me, Twilight.”

“No one knows that spell, except for you…”

“I…I…”

She sobs, unable to stop the water from flowing down her face.  Through her watery gaze, she sees a distorted image of Rainbow Dash marching toward her.  Another sob slips from her mouth as she shuts her eyes tightly.  Suddenly, her body flashes in a green light and vanishes.  The Pegasus looks around frantically, but turns to the princess.

“Where did you send her,” she demands.

Twilight is taken aback, “Nowhere, I didn’t cast the spell.”

“Then where is she?”

“I don’t know,” Twilight looks down.  “I can’t believe she did this.”

“How are we going to fix Pinkie Pie?”  Rainbow Dash stomps her front hoof into the ground.  “This is all your fault!”

“My fault?”  Twilight looks up, narrowing her eyes.

“Yeah,” she hops up, her wings flapping to keep her aloft.  Looking down on the princess, Rainbow says, “If you never trusted her in the first place, this never would have happened.”

“I trusted her as much as you did.”

“I only did because I trusted you,” she snaps back.  “But I guess just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you can’t make mistakes.”

Gnashing her teeth, Twilight is left speechless.

“Ugh, I’m going to go find her,” she growls, “See if I can get Pinkie Pie’s cutie mark back.”

Before Twilight Sparkle can stop her, her friend shoots to the sky, leaving a rainbow trail in her wake.


“Where, where am I?”

Starlight Glimmer opens her eyes to a void of black.  A strange, violet smog swirls around the ground of white.  It snakes around her, giving her chills.  The ground beneath her hooves let out a soft white glow that illuminates the endless plain.  Looking in every direction, the unicorn struggles to find any bearings as the landscape stretches endlessly.

“Do you like my distortion world?” a familiar voice echoes.

She lets her horn glow to provide more light, “Whose there?”

“You must have a guess,” the voice speaks, forcing back a hideous laugh.  “After all, you were the one who discovered my spell book.”

Marching through the fog is the image of Thorn Eclipse, the fog hugging his ashen coat.  The curved horn on his head is wrapped in a faint green light as his emerald eyes give off their own luminescence.  A smile reaches his muzzle, allowing his fanged teeth to shine like pearl.

“Who, who are you?” Starlight aims her horn.

“I go by the name, Thorn Eclipse,” he says, “But you might know me by another name.”

She watches as the unicorn shrinks.  His black fur becomes purple scales, yet he keeps the same emerald eyes.  The baby dragon still has the sinister smile.

“Spike?” she takes a step back.

“Yes, the little baby dragon you and everyone else looks down on.”

He transforms back into his unicorn-form, and laughs when Starlight backs away.

“How are you doing all of this?”

“I told you,” he chuckles.  “You found my spell book.”

“You,” she gasps.  “You are the one who used the spell.  You merged Tirek’s essence with yours.”

“Oh, not just Tirek,” he steps forward.  “Every foe the girls had faced now reside within me.  Every foe.”

“You,” she glares.  “You took my essence too?”

“Guilty,” he smiles.  “It made it easy to learn that equalizer spell.”

“So you’re the one who did that to Pinkie Pie.”

He nods.

“Why?”

“If you haven’t noticed, I have created disharmony between those six.  Jealousy between Apple Jack and Rarity.  Anger in Fluttershy.  Distrust in Rainbow Dash.  Pinkie Pie is without her laughter, and Twilight Sparkle is without her friends.  Now their precious friendship cannot stop me.  Nothing can stop me.”

“You’re wrong,” Starlight gnashes her teeth.  “I can stop you.”

“Please,” Thorn laughs.  “If the Lord of Chaos cannot stop me, what makes you think you can.  You are just one pony.  Alone.  Friendless.”

“I can still try,” she shouts.

Her horn flashes a bright blue hue as her body lifts off the ground.  A beam shoots from the tip, and strikes Thorn, covering him in the same light.  

“I never thought I would ever use this spell again,” she cries, “But if it means protecting my friends, then so be it.  I’ll tear off your Cutie Mark!”

Thorn laughs, “Please…”

His horn becomes aglow in green as it shatters her magical beam.  Rearing back his head, he blasts a spell blast of his own, striking her in the chest.  She falls to the ground, her body hugged by the purple smog.  Wearily, she looks up to see him standing over her.  

“Your essence is mine,” he smiles.  “And once made whole, I’ll be able to travel through time and collect the rest.  Thank you, Starlight, you are the key to destroying your mentor.  Any last words?”

“That magic,” she groans.  “What kind of magic was that?”

Thorn laughs, “Dragon magic…”

> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dusk falls over the town, sending shadows sprawling along the ground.  Off in the distance is a hilltop that overlooks all of Ponyville.  Hidden under its leaves, a figure wrapped in darkness watches the ponies go about their day even as the sunshine is about to end.  A nightmarish emerald gaze falls upon them.  Thorn Eclipse is wrapped in a hellish red aura that reflects the depths of his twisted heart.

I can feel the strength of the others swelling inside, making me feel complete…

The nightmarish might of Nightmare Moon.

The chaotic prowess of Discord.

The deceptiveness of Queen Chrysalis.

The unyielding strength of Lord Tirek.

And the magic superiority of Starlight Glimmer.

All have become a part of me.  Where they failed individually, their abilities combined cannot be overcome this time, my sweet princess.  I will crush this town and you, Twilight Sparkle, once and for all.

Ponies down in Ponyville look up as they are suddenly cast in shadow.  Their precious sun is swallowed up by the black, showering the land in depths of darkness.  Then, a cold wind blows through, sending fearful chills.  Some cower as snow begins to fall.  The storm rages, blanketing the town in ice and frost.  Even from his hilltop, Thorn is capable of hearing the frightened cries of the ponies running about as the blizzard crashes upon them like a tundra tidal wave.

The land was once filled with happiness and magic, now only tragedy and strife shall be known within the boundaries of Ponyville.  Let them bathe in a nightmare.

The dark unicorn transforms into blackened smoke, slithering down onto the panicked town.  Snow has buried half the town by the time he solidifies his form.  The draconic scarf whips behind him, snapping with the gusts of wind.  Closing his eyes, the horn on his head is aghast in the emerald light of magic.  A sinister grin rocks his face as the snow starts to rise, transforming into the stuff of nightmares.  Wails of ponies fill the frosted air as fear wrecks them.

“Pain and anguish,” he smiles.  “That is what Twilight Sparkle has wrought upon you, Ponyville.  If you wish to blame any-pony, ensure that it is her for this day.  I will shatter you all.  Now fall into despair.”

The screams only worsen as more of the nightmarish creatures rise through the blizzard.  Thorn watches as a unicorn breaks through the window, dashing through the snow as fast as her hooves can carry her.  In the house she leaves behind a pair of fillies who cry for their mother as she abandons them.

Selfish, he thinks.  That is their true nature.

The smile fades from his mouth as he turns away from the awful scene.  His horn illuminates once more as a small point on his neck is aglow in the same light.  Taking a deep breath, he lets out a sigh that quakes with the power of the Royal Voice.

“Twilight Sparkle,” his voice booms.  “Come out and face me!”

He waits for only a moment as a violet image takes flight from the castle.  The princess impressively soars with speed, managing to find her way to him before slamming down into the snow.  Her magical essence burns a hole in the frost, showing the lush lavish green underneath her hoofs.  There is a dark look upon her face.

“So you finally showed your face,” she says.

“One of many,” he grins.  “But it is a pleasure to finally meet you, your highness.”

“I realized there has been some-pony lurking in the shadows.”

“Indeed I have been making my moves carefully.  Allow me to finally introduce myself to you, your highness, I am Thorn Eclipse.”

“Well, Thorn, what business do you have here in Ponyville?”

“Simple,” he says, “You.”

“Me?”

“Yes, I could care less of this town.  I just want to see you gone.”

A beam ruptures from his horn, striking the princess and knocking into one of the buildings.  Debris and snow blocks his sight of her as he looks through cautiously.  Suddenly, Twilight bursts through and slams directly into him.  Thorn digs his hooves into the snow, managing to slow himself from sliding back any further.  While he comes out unmarked, there are several scrapes on her side.

“Impressive,” Thorn smiles, “I suppose I have to hit you a little harder to put you down.”

“Please,” she pants.  “I have dealt with stronger foes.”

“Is that so?” he asks.  “Then I suppose there is no reason for me to hold back.”

Twilight Sparkle is unexpectedly swallowed by the green glow of his magic.  She is tossed up in the air before being slammed fiercely down onto the roof of a building.  It crashes and crumbles in around her.  Thorn grins as she tilts his head, forcing her body out of the rubble and into the side of another structure.

The princess manages to break the hold on her and fire off a magical ray of her own.  It hits him directly in his side, but appears to not have any effect on him.  She watches as he disappears, swallowed up in the falling snow.  As she tries to search for him, she feels a warmth at her back.  Turning around, Thorn floats over her with a stream of fire striking her and sending her plummeting to the ground.  The intense flames burn at her, and melts the frozen earth around her.  She struggles to get back to her hooves.

“Simply pathetic,” Thorn Eclipse walks over to the fallen princess.  “Without your friends, you are just a pathetic pony incapable of beating any foe, let alone me.  But they are not here, are they?”

“I don’t need them to defeat you.”

“Oh, but you do,” he laughs.  “After all, you are the Princess of Friendship, incapable of accomplishing anything without the help of them.  It may be a powerful weapon, but without them you are useless.”

“No,” she manages to get back on her hooves.  “I can still face you.”

“Listen to yourself, Twilight,” he grins.  “Every foe you ever faced, you required their help.  Face it, you can’t do anything on your own, not even be a princess.  You have always required others to do anything.”

Twilight grits her teeth, “So what if I have relied on my friends.”

“Look around, Twilight Sparkle,” he laughs.  “You’re alone.  Of course, this didn’t have to be the case.  If you never turned your back on all of your friends, this whole ordeal could have been avoided.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look into my eyes,” he shouts, his voice filled with anger.  “The little dragon that you shunned is indeed capable of great things, isn’t he, your highness.”

“No, it can’t be,” she takes a step back, “Spike?”

“Indeed,” he retorts.  “Although as I said before, I prefer Thorn now.”

“But why?  Why are you doing this?”

“All of these years,” he grits his teeth.  “I have been there for you.  I have helped you at every turn during your studies with Princess Celestia.  I helped you save an empire.  I helped you become a princess.  If it wasn’t for me, Princess Celestia would not have taken you in as her apprentice.  And after all these years, I come to you, asking to be your student.  What do you do?  You turn me aside for an enemy.”

“But Spike…”

“Oh, and who could forget your little quip Silly Spike, dragons can’t learn magic.  Well, so much for your wisdom as a princess, Twilight, because it certainly looks as though I am capable.”

The princess remains silent.

“So I decided,” he regains his composure, “That since I am the one that helped build you up, it was only appropriate that I be the one to tear you down.”

“I won’t let you…”

She fires off another magical beam, but he knocks it aside with his horn.  Glaring at her, he rears back and slams his hooves into the ground.  Blackened crystals spew from the surface and strike her underneath, sending her sprawling backwards.  She coughs and holds herself.  Crunching of the snow turns her eyes skyward to see Thorn Eclipse standing over her.  Hovering at his side is a crystal spear trained on her.

“Won’t let me?” he grins.  “Twilight, you cannot stop me…”

> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The snow has since ceased to fall, but the clouds are dark and boding in the sky above.  The ponies have all fled into their homes, chased away by the living nightmares.  Those who remain outside are a fallen princess and the villain she helped create.  A crystalized spear is fixated on Twilight Sparkle, ready to take away the last of what Thorn has already torn from her.  The once baby dragon looks down uncaringly as tears form in the eyes of his former friend.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” he asks.  “No retort?  No grand speech of how friendship shall win the day?”

Twilight Sparkle turns her head down, not even wishing to look him in the eye.

“I thought as much.  Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle…”

The light around the crystal spear glows brighter as he is about lead to the climax of his revenge.  Suddenly, a ray as radiant as the sun strikes the crystal, causing it to shatter.  Thorn steps back, avoiding the shrapnel as it pierces the snow.

“I will not let you harm my student!”

Twilight picks her head up from to see Princess Celestia standing there in the midst of the storm.  The princess’ rainbow mane flows magnificently as if her follicles were alive.  Standing beside the princess of the day is the one of night, Princess Luna.

Anger flashes across Thorn’s face, “What?  No, this isn’t possible.”

“We know all about your plotting, Spike,” Luna speaks up.  

He gnashes his teeth, “It matters not.  While I chose not to contend with you two, if you get in my way I will have no choice but to rid the kingdom of its princesses.”

Aiming his horn at Celestia, he shoots a beam of magical energy.  But before it can even reach the Princess of the Day, it is blocked by a magic shield, which repels the attack right back at him.  Thorn is quick enough to leap out of the way of his own attack.  It strikes the side of a building, causing the entire wall to explode, exposing innocent ponies to the elements.

“I won’t let you hurt the princesses,” the voice of a stallion barks, “Or my baby sister.”

Looking in another direction, the villainous unicorn sees that two others have appeared.  Standing at the forefront is the captain of the guard, Shining Armor.  He protects his wife, Princess Cadence who glowers at the pony that had betrayed her sister-in-law.

“This is impossible,” Thorn looks at the new foes, backing away.  “I made sure to use the utmost secrecy in my plot.  How is it that all of you are here at the most crucial point?”

“That would be my doing…”

Thorn hears a familiar voice, but he cannot find a body to where it matches.  Then, a snowman grows out of the snow, bearing a striking resemblance to a draconequus.  Two coal eyes look at him, and a grin turns upwards on the frosty face.  The carrots and snow melt away for scales and fur, as Discord takes the other side of Princess Celestia.  A devious grin is about his face, as he folds his arms about his chest.  Thorn looks at him in disbelief.

“No,” he shouts.  “No, no, you cannot be alive.  I drained you of your essence.  I turned you to stone.  I watched you die!”

“Oh my, is that what you watched?” the lord of chaos says.  “If I recall, all you did was crush a statue of me.  Are you sure that I was the statue that you so rudely stomped on?”

“Even so,” Thorn grits his teeth.  “I drained you of all of your power.  Your tricks should be no more…”

“Oh, didn’t you know?” Discord asks.  In a puff of white smoke, a small perfume bottle appears in his hand.  He gives it a few spurts on his neck.  “After that little incident with Tirek, I make sure to keep a bottle of Essence of Discord with me at all times.”

Thorn stomps his hoof, glaring.

“So once I learned of your nasty little plan, I decided to tell Princess Celestia,” Discord explains.  “She rounded up the princess and the others.  Twilight’s friends are hunting down Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie’s cutie mark right now.”

My entire plan has become unraveled, Thorn thinks bitterly.  All because I underestimated him.

“Give it up, Spike,” Princess Cadence shouts.  “You are outnumbered.  There is now way out of this, just surrender, and let Twilight go.”

“Outnumbered, is that what you think?” Thorn growls.  

Rearing back on his hind legs, he slams his front hooves into the snow.  Spears of black crystal rupture from the earth, trying to strike his new foes.  The three alicorns take flight, avoiding the rising spikes with ease.  Discord and Shining Armor manage to slip away from the blackened gems.  Even though his attack fails, it continues to grow, breaking through buildings.

In the air, the princesses watch, searching through the frozen fractals for their foe.  Then out of the spires, an enormous red hand reaches out and attempts to grab them.  The princesses manage to get out of the way as Tirek climbs up the crystal towers after them.  Between the curved devil-like horns is a fiery ball of energy.  He lets it grow large enough before shooting a ray.  It pierces the clouds, ultimately misses his mark.  Princess Celestia answers with a radian beam that strikes him.  While he is able to swat it away, it causes him to lose his balance.  They watch as the colossal form disappears, and the small gray unicorn lands safely in the snow.

“I will not be denied,” he shouts.

The giant spires start to glow in the light of his magic.  Like rockets, they shoot toward the heavens.  Unable to dodge them, the three princesses choose to attack, splitting the crystals with their own magic.  They manage to split them down the middle, as the spikes harmlessly sail over the Ever Free Forest.

“That’s enough!”

Thorn Eclipse turns just as he sees the white of a unicorn charging him.  Shining Armor slams into him, knocking the blackened pony to the snow.  Dazed, Thorn struggles to get back on his hooves.  As he does, he is slowly surrounded by his foes.

“Enough of this, Spike,” Celestia begs.

“My name is not Spike, it is Thorn,” he bellows.  “Thorn Eclipse.  And I will never—”

Suddenly, he falls to the ground as if overcome with pain.  The others gasp, as parts of his body start to almost melt as if he were made of wax.  Looking up, his left eye has become completely hazed, blinded.  Looking at the horrified faces, he gets up and summons all the strength he has in his horn.  Light envelops his body and he vanishes in an explosive manner that leaves a small crater in its wake.

Somewhere in the draconic caves he reappears, falling against a stalagmite.  He groans, his body continuing to fall apart.

“My body,” he gasps.  “This body.  I can’t keep it stable any longer.  No, all this power is going to waste.  Everything that I have strived for is going to waste.  No.  No.  No!”

He slams a hoof against the cave wall, but it is he that cracks not the stone.  Falling in pain, he lies there and closes his eyes.

Somewhere in the depths of the cave, he catches the sound of a fierce growl, and the air becomes thick with scent of fire.

> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

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!”

> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thunder claps, sending a howling boom that causes the castle in Equestria to quake.  In the dark halls of the keep, a single stallion guards the halls, a lantern clutched tightly in his teeth.  A sudden claw of lightning streaks across the sky, startling the earth pony.  The lantern falls, snuffing out the candle and blanketing him in darkness.  Droplets of sweat trickle down his neck as he frantically looks around in the shadows.  Nothing seems to leap out at him as rain strikes the windows repeatedly, keeping the silence away.

“Calm down,” he says in a gruff voice.  “It’s just a little storm.”

Breathing deeply, he presses onwards.  Another flash of lightning sends white light sprawling across his body.  Draped across the floor is a shadow that does not belong to the stallion.  Looking upwards, he sees a shadowy figure hanging from the rafters.  Booming thunder drowns out his cry as the robed intruder pounces.  A skeletal tail slinks out of the back of the cloak, its spine-appendages wrap around the guard’s neck before he squeezes tightly.  The stallion grunts, trying to break the hold.  Underneath the hood, two emerald eyes glow, and a hungry hiss slips out.

“No,” the voice is icy and unforgiving.  “I do not have time for you…”

He slams the guard against the wall, and the body slumps to the floor.  Leaving the unconscious colt, the hooded figure slinks back to the shadows.  Carefully and quietly he makes his way to the end of the hallway, to the bedchambers belonging to the princesses.  Standing outside, the doors are guarded two additional stallions standing sentry.  The cloaked figure slides his arms, unveiling boned talons.  He waits for thunder to deafen the ears of the guard before digging his claws into the stone walls.  Slowly, he crawls up above the door.

The guards are completely unawares as he hangs over them.  His long, snake-like tail slips down between them.  The tip has a crescent shape to it, each point appears sharp as a dagger.  He slashes at the first guard, the colt cringes as he falls to the ground stiff as a board.  Before the other has a chance to warn the princess, the tail wraps around his neck and squeezes the life out of him.  Dropping down to the ground, the hooded figure quietly opens the door and slinks inside.

Curtains are drawn shut in the bedchambers, bathing the room in complete blackness.  Only the faintest of light from the hallway allows the intruder to see the bed at the opposite wall.  Blankets steadily rise and fall over the slumbering princess.  He moves closer, reaching the foot of the bed in complete silence.  Poking his head over the frame, he slides his tail out from underneath his cloak.  Stretching over the body, he stabs into the blankets.

“I thought I sensed a foulness in my castle,” he hears Celestia speak.

Light floods the room, momentarily blinding the intruder.  As his eyes adjust, he sees the shadowy shape of an alicorn stretching across the bed.  He lunges out of the way of a magical beam that scorches the ground where he once stood.  Landing across the room, the cloak slides from his body.  Princess Celestia uses her wing to muffle a gasp.

The form standing in her chambers is a teenage-size dragon whose body is heavily decayed.  Bone is stripped of scales, only hugged together with a strange violet vines.  The rib cage seems to be filled with a blackish smog that seems to be held within the bond of bones.  What scales are still on the body are a deep purple.  The face of the dragon is concealed by the skull of another of his kind, transformed into a makeshift helmet.  Its fangs are filed into slits like visors.  Inside the blackness of the skull mask are two emerald orbs that give off a haunting light.

“Spike?” the princess looks horrified, “Is that you?”

“It’s quite the sight, isn’t it?” he hisses through the fangs of his mask.  “The spell rebounded, and tore my body to shreds.  I was left alone, to die in a cave.”

“How is it that you are still alive?”

A deep, wheezing breath slithers out of his throat.  “It seemed that the cave was not empty.  As I lied there, on the brink of death, a dragon came along, looking for something to eat.”

The tip of his skeletal tail rises and slams against the ground. His breathing grows louder, and more haggard.

“I was not ready to die,” he rasps.  “Revenge not yet fulfilled.  I had only one choice…”

A sadistic laugh rips through the air, causing the princess to shiver in disgust.

“That is right, your highness, I devoured that dragon, became a cannibal,” he wheezes, chuckling under his breath.  “Just a small price to pay to see your precious pupil buried in the dirt.”

“I will not allow that to happen,” Celestia rises into the air, carried by her wings.  “I will show no mercy to those who threaten those under my protection.”

From the tip of her horn she fires another beam, but the dragon sprints quickly away, and bounds toward her.  He thrusts his tail at her, but a dome of light erupts from her body, blocking the attack.  It expands outwards and smashes him against the floor.  A crater is left where it cruses him.  Celestia looks down, seeing that the light in his eyes have been snuffed out.

“You cannot defeat me,” she calls.  “You are nothing, but a shell now.”

“You’re wrong…”

Spike rises to his feet, the entirety of his right arm laying on the ground.  Picking it up, he forces the bones back into the joints where the vines cling to them.  The eyes are ignited again, burning brighter than ever before.

“Before, I was weak,” he says, his breathing staggers.  “I relied on the strength of those villains.  But now, I learned the truth.  So I came here to take back what’s mine.”

“And what is that?”

“The magic that you and your sister stole from me!”

> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What are you talking about?” Princess Celestia is taken aback.

The skeletal dragon before her lets out a low hiss as his bones rattle.  Glowing emerald eyes flash with excitement as his tail raises before slamming against the ground again.  Spike looks more like a dangerous creature than the cunning colt he previously took.

“You should just drop the façade,” he speaks, his voice a low wheeze.  “I learned the truth about your history, your highness.”

He holds his hands up, as if holding something aloft.

“The power to raise the sun.  Such magic elevated you, to become an alicorn, to rule over the kingdom you saved from Discord.  A thousand years you reigned, and never once did a subject question as to how you obtained the ability.”

He lowers his hands, and his tail slams harder into the floor, causing the tile to crack and splinter.  Shards of the ceramic cling to the spines.

“You stole it,” he growls.  “The power to move the celestial bodies never belonged to you ponies.  It belonged to us dragons.”

Darkness seems to ooze out of the gaps in his bones, spilling out like thick oil.  Splashing across the ground, it spreads through the room.  Celestia fans her wings, taking flight just before it reaches her.  The black starts to crawl up the walls.  Looking in every direction, the room becomes filled with strange black substance.  Her horn glows a shining yellow as it tries to attack the sprawling darkness.  The beam only swallows it whole.

“What sort of magic is this?” she demands.

“Dragon,” he hisses.  “And there is nothing you can do to stop it.”

Shadows surround them, swallowing the room whole.  It contorts and twists, like rigid blobs pulsating in the everlasting black.  And then, the walls crack, white light peeks through in bright shining bliss.  Rock shatters the darkness, as the castle disappears for a mountainous landscape.  Celestia feels her hooves touch a reaching spire that rockets up underneath her.

Mountains tower toward the heavens, each hollowed out into a network of caves.  In the valley of stone there is a beautiful blue river.  The depths are crystal clear showing the colorful collection of fish swimming against the stream.

Shadows looms about the two of them, contorting and taking shape.  Then, they start to fall away, as light breaks through the threshold of darkness.  Spires of rock being to appear, breaking up through the castle grounds.  Celestia feels her hooves hit the rock as another forms beneath her.  And then, all at once, the skies are a deep ocean blue with only a few clouds in the sky.  Toward the mouth of the river is a peak that stands higher than all the rest.  Dragons have gathered around the mouth of the giant cave, finding rocks to perch themselves.

At the entrance of the cave there is one of the great beasts that is several times the size of its scaly kin.  He has a body of deep violet, nearly black in shade.  A pair of wings stretch out, nearly blocking out the mountain at his back.  One is patterned with a sun formation.  The other is black and starry, emblazoned with the moon.

Folding his arms before him, the great dragon lowers his head.  Jade eyes fall upon a pair of familiar-looking ponies approaching him and the others.  Celestia watches from afar as she sees the younger version of herself and her sister standing there with brave faces.  In the distant memories, neither has their wings, nothing more than unicorns.

“Great Dragon Lord Eclipse,” Celestia speaks loudly.  “We have journeyed a long way.  We thank you for speaking with us.”

“I am curious to see ponies coming to the Land of Dragons.  I was under the impression that your kind feared us.”

“Many do,” Luna speaks.  “But we require your aid.  Equestria is in a dire state.  The Chaos Lord, Discord, has taken control.”

“I was under the assumption that Equestria was protected by the Tree of Harmony,” Eclipse speaks.  “Is it unable to expel this creature?”

“It is, but we do not have the power to tap into the power the Tree of Harmony possesses,” Celestia explains.  “It requires tremendous magic that neither of us possesses.”

“That is why we came to you,” Luna chimes in.  “We heard that your magic allows you to move the celestial bodies.”

“Yes,” he speaks.  “It has been my duty to raise and lower the sun and moon every day.  The power has been in my bloodline for generations.”

“That kind of magical power is what we need to awaken the Elements of Harmony inside the tree,” Celestia say.

“So you require my magic to save Equestria?”

“Yes,” the sisters speak in unison.

“I understand your plight, but I cannot leave these lands,” he speaks.  “Without my rule, the dragons become…unruly.”

“Then grant us your magic at least,” Celestia speaks.  “Us ponies know a way to transfer magic between species.  With your magic, we can unleash the elements.”

The Dragon Lord looks amongst this dragons, who seem to be conversing with themselves, until he returns to the ponies, “I will grant you the use of this magic, but only on one condition.”

“Yes, your lordship?”

The long, serpentine tail slithers forth before the two unicorns.  Coiled carefully in his scaly tail is a small egg, no bigger than hoof of either pony.

“This is my unborn sun,” he explains.  “I have reached the age where I will pass my magic down to him.  When you have resolved the dilemma with Discord, please return the magic to him.”

“Yes, your highness,” Luna bows.

From afar, the alicorn Celestia watches the scene unfold.  She watches as her sister takes the egg, setting it at her hooves.  It is only when Celestia hears the rattling of bone does she take her eyes off the imagery.  Spike stands at her side, his emerald eyes burning like a haunting fire.  He slams his tail against the ground, the spines piercing the rock.  When the princess attempts to look back to the ancient event, she has returned to her bed chambers.

“And out of the kindness, the great dragon lord gave you his magic,” Spike rasps, a low growl in his voice.  “You unlocked the Elements of Harmony and freed Equestria.  But when it came time to return your magic, you decided to keep it for yourselves.  After all, the ponies saw you and your sister as goddesses with that power.”

He slams his tail down harder, causing cracks to form on the tiled floor.

“The Land of Dragons, my home, fell into ruin without the eclipse-dragon bloodline.  They became unruly, choosing to turn to their primal instincts.  Nothing more than idiotic beasts.”

The air around him ripples.

“You stole my birthright, destroyed my homeland, and kept me trapped in that shelled prison.  If not for Twilight Sparkle, I probably would have never seen the light of day.”

“That’s right,” Celestia says sternly.  “It was Twilight that set you free.  She is your friend and your companion.  How can you seek her destruction?”

“Freedom does not equate forgiveness,” he roars, green flames spewing from his body, spanning outwards in a circle.  “And it does not forgive the sins of you ponies.”

“As I said before,” Celestia rises off the ground, her horn aghast in light, “I will not allow any harm to come to those under my care.  You may have been Twilight’s friend, but I will strike you down.”

He hisses, “Silence me now that I am the last to know the truth of you sisters…”

Suddenly, a beam as a black as the night tears the tips of the princess’ wings, and strikes the skeletal dragon in his underbelly.  He is tossed back against the wall, his bones rattling as he lets out a pained gasp.  The sound of hooves approach, as the mare of the night joins her sister.

“What is that foul creature,” Luna asks.

Celestia looks at Spike, and then turns away, “That is nothing more than a fiendish dragon that is attempting to steal our magic.  Join me, sister, so that we may end its pathetic life.”

“You intend to silence me,” Spike growls, getting slowly up off the ground.  “Just as I expected of you, Celestia.  Behind your regal appearance, you are nothing more than a greedy, selfish pony.  And as a dragon, I for one know the meaning of greed.”

The two sisters watch as the dragon starts to grow at an alarming rate.  He breaks the boned helmet on his head, revealing nothing but a skull underneath, bound together with the same purple vines that holds the rest of him.  

“Dragons grow stronger by greed and want,” he roars, his voice deepening to match his colossal size.  “And I have been keeping it in check for all these years, but now I finally can let myself go.  I can finally desire what I want.”

The ceiling breaks as it cannot contain the size of the titanic skeletal dragon that is in the midst of the two sisters.  Horns pierce the dome of the castle tower, as he wretches it free from his skull.  Emerald eyes glow brightly under the full moon.  Looking up at the stars, the undead dragon spews a green flame that pierces the night sky.

> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That power belongs to ME!

Flames of a sickening green pierce the clouds in the dark sky.  Celestia folds her wings, allowing gravity to pull her out of danger.  Far enough away she fans them open, catching herself back into midflight.  Through the endless night, a ray of yellow light shines like a small sun, building from the tip of her horn.  Aiming it at the fell-dragon, a cone of solar energy rips through the air, striking the skeletal beast in its side.  A loud, angry roar is its answer, as the tendril wrapped maw stretch so that it can release another fireball.  Again the princess avoids it, but it pummels into the city streets.  

The night comes alive with fire, ponies run frantically out in the streets.  Equestrian Fire Department rushes to the burning buildings, buckets of water saddled around them.  As they start to put out the fire, a stream of emerald flames careen from above, incinerating three more houses nearby.

“Sister!” Celestia cries out.  “We must stop him or innocent ponies will be in harm’s way.”

Luna joins her side, seemingly blending with the night, “He is after us, dear sister, perhaps we can lure him elsewhere.”

Black wraps about her horn as she shoots a beam of energy at the dragon, striking his skull against the cheekbone.  Spike winces, but turns and lets out another furious roar.  His emerald eyes find that the alicorn sisters have taken flight, becoming nothing more than twinkling stars in the blackened sky.  Boned claws dig into the rock of the castle, pulling the dragon up out of the tower.

You flee from me?  You flee from your subjects?  Give back that power.  It is mine.  Mine.  MINE!

Purple tendrils erupt from his spine, splitting into two arcs that fall on either side of his body.  They twist and protrude, weaving and forming.  Pulling himself out of the tower, the newly formed wings gust the wind underneath him, lifting him off the ground.  The titanic dragon hovers off the ground just a couple feet.  Another flap of his wings propels him higher as he gives chase after the princesses.

The sheer size allows him to catch up with only a few moments.  Celestia looks back, and then quickly alerts her sister.  Luna looks over her shoulder as well, gasping.  Both sisters fly faster, trying to gain some ground.  Behind them the air stirs, and tosses them about.  A shadow loom over, cutting out the moon as a dragon claw comes down upon them, smashing them to the ground.  They fall to the earth, being crushed between branches and the cold, unforgiving ground.

They manage to survive the impact, but are slow to get up.  Celestia looks to her wing, find it twisted in a queer shape.  Pain runs through it when she tries to straighten it out.  When she looks to Luna, she finds that her sister has met the same fate.  
“Can you still fly?” Celestia shouts.

“I might,” Luna winces, looking at her damaged wings, “But not for too long.”

Suddenly, the colossal dragon falls to the ground, causing it to quake.  

There is nowhere for you to run.  You will give me what is MINE!

Throwing his weight back, he comes forward and slams his claws against the ground.  It causes a seismic quake that levels the forest.  The sisters stagger, but remain hoofed.  Spike lets flames loose onto the forest, setting the land ablaze in emerald fire.  It singes the already fallen trees to cinders.

“He is relentless, sister,” Luna points out.  “There must be a way of defeating him.”

Celestia looks over to the ferocious dragon snarling at him, “If he wants this power so much, then it is what he will get.”

“Sister?”

“Follow my lead…”

Celestia takes flight, and her sister chases after.  Soaring trough the sky, they are bombarded by blasts of flames coming from their titanic enemy.  Returning fire, the Princess of the Sun shoots beams, but they are blocked by the webbing of purple wings at his back.  When he pulls his wing away to fire, he is unexpectedly hit by Luna’s spell, striking his mouth downwards to aim flames at his feet.  The green flames snake across his body, making his hiss in pain, but he remains standing.  

Suddenly, Celestia drops down low, flying straight on at him.

“Sister!” Luna shouts, “What are you doing?”

Celestia does not listen to her sister’s plea, as she seems to be focusing elsewhere.  Her horn is aglow with its celestial light, even as she is being attacked by flames.  Spiraling away from one fireball, she is nearly struck by another that singes her already pained wing.  Wincing, she falls from the sky for a moment, but manages to stay aloft, drawing closer to the undead dragon.  Just as he is about to charge another breath of fire, he sees a light breaking the horizon.

Night suddenly turns to day as the sun unexpectedly rises from over the plain.  It is blindingly close, a colossal fireball only a few hundred feet from the lands of Equestria.  Spike looks to Celestia, realizing she is the reason behind the sudden daylight.

“You want the power of the sun so badly,” Celestia shouts, her horn burning brightly.  “Then take it!”

Throwing the sun, the ball of gas slams against the undead dragon.  Spike roars angrily as he throws his claws up to intercept.  Bones touch the sun, as he roars even louder, as he tries to force it back.  It starts to singe his claws, turning them to dust.  Claws turn to nothing, as the bones slowly start to dissolve.  Even parts of his skull start to ebb into dust, startling with his upper jaw.

I will not be stopped.  It belongs to ME!  It is MINE!  MINE!  MINE! MINE!

Before the rest of his mouth his burned away, Spike opens his jaw and tries to bite down into the sun.  The fangs are reduced to ash, but he still continues to bite down.  Just before he is swallowed up by the sun, the great ball of fire explodes, shooting up dust that blinds the princess.

“Sister!” Luna cries, racing down to join her sister.

She hunts through the veil of smoke, until she spots a small shadow hovering above the ground.  With tears of joy in her eyes, she joins her sister at her side.

“You did it,” Luna shouts in her equestrian voice. 

Celestia smiles, “We did it sis—”

A suddenly huge shadow breaks through the smoke, and breaks the veil.  The scorched skeletal jaws are opened wide ready to devour Celestia.  But before they can consume the Princess of Light, her sister pushes her out of the way.  Luna becomes a victim as she is devoured in one bite.

“LUNA!”

Spike appears motionless, his body covered in scorch marks.  All of a sudden, his body is wrapped up in light and darkness.  Celestia tries to get closer, but a shockwave sends her flying out of sight.  The pained roars of the dragon slowly change, becoming fits of maddening laughter.  And then, in one final explosion, he turns the land around in into a crater.

Standing in its center is a dragon of deep violet that it is nearly black.  The wing on his left has dancing flames of the sun, while the other has the crystalized shards of moonlight.  Opening his eyes, the pulse with power, a deep emerald gaze.  Spike looks down at his claws, finding they are covered in scales again rather than bone.

“I am whole,” he smiles sweetly.  “This is what has been meant for me all this time.”

He holds his claw aloft, as magic builds between his talons.  Radiant light fires, illuminating the sky as it rockets into space.

“Thorn Eclipse has been reborn!” he shouts triumphantly.  “And this is only the beginning.  Equestria, for all the pain you have brought upon my family, I shall return it tenfold.  You, Twilight Sparkle, shall feel the full force of my wrath.  I will be the villain that finally takes her down.”