> The Cutie Re-Mark: The Ultimate Enemy > by LoganRyder > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Theme) (The first shot shows two royal guards of Celestia along with an unknown pony cloaked) (The second then shows two split pictures of Spike and an older looking teenage version of himself, with red eyes and sharp spikes on his head. Spike is on the blue right side, while his evil older self is on the red left side, the two pictures slowly begin to go up to each other) (The third then shows Spike facing his evil self, who only smirks in arrogance at him) (The fourth shot shows same second shot appears and begins to reveal both's faces) (The fifth shows Spike fighting his evil self, who only held out his arms in a taunting manner) (The sixth shot shows the picture from the second shot now fully put together and shows Spike, who then roars out a large wail of green fire at the screen, which goes white) In the sky, there were two ponies in battle against each other. The first was Twilight Sparkle, who was flying in the air and blasting magic blasts at her adversary. This was Starlight Glimmer, an pony who wanted to make her village live in "equality" but was stopped by Twilight and her friends. As they battled each other, there were both young and adult pegasi watching the duel. "You really gotta work on your aim." Starlight taunted the alicorn "Luckily for you, I'm not done yet!" Twilight replied They clashed again, attacking with different magic spells, until Starlight fired an big blast from her horn at the flying alicorn with an smirk "Try this!" Twilight gasped at the attack and dodged, which landed on the ground a large blue hole, but unfortunately, since Spike was on her back at the same time. "Spike!" Twilight shouted Spike screamed until he fell into the magic portal. Which closed the moment he fell into it "TWILIGHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTT!!!" Spike cries out as he fell inside. The baby dragon was falling through the sky and landed on a tree. looked around and saw he was in a forest "Where am I?" Spike asks himself in confusion He looked around to find an exit to dark forest and saw a light. He ran to it and saw the sign for Ponyville "There's Ponyville! I gotta warn the others about Twilight!" Spike said in relief upon seeing the town However, he saw Sweet Apple Acres and the farm was destroyed, while the trees were dying and had no apples. "What the hay? What happened to Applejack's house? " Spike said in shock. A loud boom was heard in the city and caused Spike to jump in fright. He saw the explosion was in Ponyville. "What was that?!" Spike thought in fear and surprise. Carrying all the confidence in him, he went to the town and ran to see the source of the large explosion. However, the moment he arrived, he was shocked at the state of the entire area. All the buildings in the town such as Sugarcube corner, Carousel Boutique and many other homes were devastated from destruction and despair. "What happened here?" Spike said in his thoughts An female scream was heard and said "RUN!, it's the dragon again!" Spike was surprised, were they referring to him? Just as he was about to react, a large blast almost hit him. "What the?!" Spike said as he hid in a nearby alleyway. He looked and saw to his horror, an teenage dragon with red eyes, purples scales and green sharpened spikes on his head was floating in the sky surprisingly with wings that were dark as the night and was blasting dark green fire blasts out of his arms at the running ponies, who fled in terror at the flying dragon that attacked them all. "Who the heck is that?" Spike whispered The dragon then saw an whole army of royal guards suddenly face the teenage dragon. The lead guard said "Spike the dragon, you are under arrest and we have all of Ponyville surrounded, surrender now and you will not be harmed." The teen dragon only laughed in response to this demand and said "Surrender, after the things you and the girls did to me for the past few years? Not even close!" He threw back his hands and fired a large green blast of magic at the royal guards. Blowing them away and knocking them into a building. Dark Spike then flew away after he dealt with the guard ponies. After he dealt with them, Spike was shocked, that dragon was him, but how did he grow up so fast? How did he get so much power? Spike only ran out of the alleyway and said "Wait? That was me?" As he ran, two ponies noticed him and Spike recognized them instantly The first pony was a pegasus who had a pink curly mane, yellow coat and 3 pink butterflies as her cutie mark, but had a few notable differences, she had a metal left wing and her left eye had a bandage on it. The second was his crush Rarity, but she looked noticeably different. Her mane was more short and had a metal like vibe to it and her tail was shorter. "Wait..are those two...?" Spike said upon recognizing who the two ponies actually were. They looked at him and gave glares of disgust and anger. "Hey it's the dragon!" The pegasus said in shock "Get him!" Rarity hissed in fury They charged at him as Spike ran saying "Rarity! Fluttershy! What're you two doing?!" "Stopping YOU!" Fluttershy responded "And this time...PERSONALLY!" Rarity angrily added The baby dragon ram everywhere he could to avoid his angry friends. But they followed him where ever he hid. As he was about to hide in Rarity's destroyed boutique, Fluttershy caught him in a net. "Gotcha!" The shy mare said Rarity approached the trapped baby dragon and said "This time it all ends. Here and now!" She began to lit her horn up for a blast from her magic as Spike gave a frightened look and said in fear. "Rarity why are you doing this?! I'm your friend!" "I thought so too. But I guess I wasn't after all this." She said with a tone of both hate and regret. Just as she could fire, a green blast knocked her into the boutique, Fluttershy saw her friend get attacked and said "Who did that?!" "That would be me." She turned and saw the other Spike from her timeline give a smirk before he knocked her into the boutique with a savage punch "And eventually him." Dark Spike said looking at his trapped young self > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dark Spike then floated down and landed in front of his trapped young self and said in a monotone, deep, cold voice. "So, to what do I owe this little blast from the past?" Spike was outright frightened at the glare he was given by his older self and said nothing Dark Spike only glared further and cut the net, freeing his young self, who tried to run, but was grabbed by the neck. The evil teen dragon said in a more serious tone "Well? I'm waiting for an answer." "Well you see...me and Twilight were trying to stop a pony called Starlight Glimmer from altering Equestria by sabotaging the Rainboom Rainbow Dash did that caused Twilight and the girls to get their cutie marks." "The purple princess horse and that retarded, hypocritical, communist excuse of an student of hers? Give me a break." Dark Spike said in disgust "Student?" Spike questioned "After she and her fought, she managed to reform Starlight and stop her from destroying the scroll of the time travel spell she stole. She then helped Starlight make amends with her friend Sunburst and the others. And even though I helped her and the girls, nopony cared. " Dark Spike said with a distasteful tone "How do you know that?" Spike asked Dark Spike only smirked and said "Isn't it obvious? I'm YOU. In the next few years." Spike only gave a look of horror at his evil self. This was the dragon he would become when he grew up? Destroy Ponyville and kill everything in his way? As Spike looked at him, he said in shock "What did you do to my friends?" Spike asked his older self Dark Spike only gave a look of disgust and simply said with a tear in his eye "Let's just say that friendship isn't just magic, it's also an way of false hope." "What? What did Twilight and the others ever do to you?" Spike asked his future self "Are you kidding me? You should know since your me. They see me and you as a tool and don't care!!" Dark Spike said, saying the last word in a tone of betrayal and despair, as Spike was about to ask again, Dark Spike cut him off "Do you remember the time when it was Twilight's birthday? I wasn't invited and she didn't bring me!! What about the Winter Wrap up? What happened when you were frozen, everypony laughed at me and nopony bothered to help! At the Fall Weather competition, they used me as a punching bag! And they left me at the Gala and each time THEY. DON'T. CARE!!!" Dark Spike ranted in tears Spike only looked in silence at his future self and finally asked "But wait, what made you turn into...this?" "That doesn't matter, what matters is I make sure you become ME!" Dark Spike said However, the older dragon was blasted into a nearby stand, he looked and saw it was Rarity. He then got angry and lunged as she blasted magic bolts at him, but he teleported in ftontbof her and grabbed her horn. "You know, just out of respect, if let you live.." Dark Spike said He then threw her up and savagely punched her away, but Spike managed to catch her and push her away from one of his magic blasts. "Are you ok?" Spike asked Future Rarity "Spikey-Wikey, I'm sorry for how I treated you. I...I'm sorry." Future Rarity said before she passed out from the pain. Spike only looked at his older self, who was about to kill Future Fluttershy and breathed a large wave of green fire at him, which knocked him back into a building. Spike turned to her and said "Hurry, run!" She nodded as she fled the area as Dark Spike quickly recovered and grabbed Spike's tail, saying mockingly "Run, where are they gonna go?" He then threw Spike down and roared out a loud screeching wail, releasing green dark flaming rings from his mouth. Future Fluttershy ran, but was knocked away from the blast. Spike tried to save her in any way he could, until Dark Spike grabbed him "Ah Ah Ah! Your not going anywhere!" As Spike looked, he punched his dark self in the chin and saw that older Fluttershy was able to escape. "Oh man, at least she's ok, now I gotta get back to Twilight." However, before he could react, Dark Spike grabbed him by the leg and said "And then what, return home?, she's doomed anyway." He glared at his young self with an evil grin and said "In fact, your not going anywhere!" Dark Spike then used his magic to open an dark looming portal from his arm as he said "Strange how the so-called magic of friendship can tear a life apart, especially from one that cared so much." Spike however gave an glare at him and said in defiance "It doesn't matter if i travel back in time or not. I'll NEVER turn into you! And Twilight and my friends will help me and stop you!" "Oh of course you will, besides if they were going to try saving you, why hasn't any of them even bothered to show up? In fact....when have they ever shown up." The moment he said this, he suddenly transformed himself into Spike in a dark green flaming ring as he threw Spike into the portal while he closed it with his magic. Having dealt with his young self, Dark Spike then pulled out the time travel scroll and said "Time to go to work!" He then began to open a hole with his magic and swiftly entered. (Ponyville) The town of Ponyville was going through its annual routine and the daily lives. In an alleyway, Dark Spike landed, he left the alley as he saw the town and its residents with some even waving at him, but he only gave a look of disdain as he walked by. "Ponyville, still standing. For now." As he walked by, an voice called to him. "Spike!" The dark dragon looked and saw it was a relieved Twilight running over to the dark older dragon in disguise. "I was worried about you! Are you ok?" The purple alicorn asked in worry "Yeah I bet you were you hypocritical fake." Dark Spike thought before he said in Spike's normal voice. "Yeah Twi, I'm ok, let's go home and relax." Twilight only smiled and said "Good idea, Spike. By the way, we have a new guest living with us." "Oh I wonder who." Dark Spike sarcastically said mentally as he decided to play dumb. As they walked to the path to her castle, Dark Spike ominously grinned as his green eyes flashed red before returning to green. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spike was flying through the portal and screamed as he flew. After a few minutes of falling, he landed on the ground with a thud. He groaned as he slowly began to get up. "What the? Where am I?" Spike said in confusion Spike only saw a pathway and walked through it, until he saw all the cells that contained all the worst villains in Equestria, but all the cells were empty. Then it clicked to him. "Wait...I'm in Tartarus!" Spike realized in horror "Hey look there he is!" A voice said Spike looked and saw to his horror, all the villains freed and furious, yet more older and beaten. Tirek was the leader and had grown a large white beard, while he had a missing left eye covered by an eyepatch. The centaur was leading an large group of furious creatures and shouted "GET HIM!" Spike ran for his life and said "Listen I had nothing to do with any of those things!" Tirek replied in disgust "Yet you directed your rage at us too and stole my magic and power! Now you will pay for ruining our future with yours!" Spike ran as the vengeful creatures pursued him until they reached a dead end. They closed in on him as the now scared dragon said "Get away! Get away! GET AWAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Spike had surprisingly wailed out large flaming green rings and knocked them out all at once. Spike was surprised and said "Did I do that?" As he looked on, he ran out and looked at the cells. They were all empty but there was two that were closed and had unknown prisoners. Spike looked at the prisoners and said "What happened here?" "You happened." The unknown pony answered "Who said that?" Spike said "Don't you remember after I tried to deal with you and your friends at the wedding?" The other prisoner answered The figure lying in the corner of the left cell revealed herself and Spike gave a look of surprise. "Queen Chrysalis?!" The changeling had drastically changed in appearance, she looked more scarred and beaten, her body looked as if it was drained, her wings were snapped off personally while her horn had a good ring on it. She gave a hard look at the young dragon "But then, who's that?" Spike asked about the other prisoner. The figure revealed himself to be a bearded white pony unicorn and Spike recognized him "Starswirl the Bearded? Your real?!" The unicorn stallion didn't reply, he simply looked down "What happened to this place?" Spike asked "I can ask you the very same question boy. Or judging from your look, what HASN'T YET happened to you." Starswirl responded "How do you know I'm not him?" "You have more youth compared to him, not to mention I can feel the love in your heart. Until at least it's consumed by hatred." Chrysalis answered "What do you mean?" Spike asked Chrysalis sighed and began to talk "When I was planning my revenge on Twilight Sparkle, I had my changelings kidnap her friends and the princesses, that way we can take over Ponyville. Even though we succeeded, Starlight enlisted the aid of her friends. When they managed to defeat me, you began to undergo more work and pressure from the girls and Twilight and suffered a lot of stress from it, while they just had fun hanging out with each other. Until one day, you managed to come across the Alicorn Amulet, which used its power to fuse into you and offered you a chance at friendship, but yet further increasing your suffering. When the Princesses and Twilight found out, they began to see of you as an threat, until...it happened." "What happened?" Spike asked This time Starswirl continued "As your So-called friends had kept using you your whole youth, you tried to fight it. Starlight realized how much you were feeling with your stress and offered to help like i did with my friend Stygian, but they kept putting her down. Until one day, during the day they would show their journal about friendship, you snapped and personally put them down at how you weren't getting any credit or acknowledgment, and even stole magic from wherever you to increase your capability. You used it to murder both them and my friends as well as the Princesses." Spike only gave a look of horror at the former queen and said "So the Alicorn Amulet caused this?" "No, your so called friends did. You were just by proxy." Starswirl responded "What happened to the girls and Starlight?" Chrysalis only winced at the memory and said "Let's just say that some things are better left unsaid." Spike only gave a look of horror and caught on, simply looking down in shame and guilt. "If I've learned something out of this, it's that through these years without love or magic i finally see what a fool I've been to not accept friendship and its true meaning, especially when it was offered to me." Chrysalis lamented as she looked on the floor in guilt "I guess that's what everybody needs. A second chance. Do you two know a way out of here?" "I need a lot of love to power my magic, and I'm completely drained both from the cell and from him. Plus even if you return to him, he could kill you in a second with his power." Chrysalis said "Plus he completely drained my magic." Starswirl added Spike, looking at the cells, used his fire breath to burn the lock and the bars, opened the door and freeing the former queen amd the remaining pillar. He then burned off the horn ring with a slow breath of fire and pulled it off Spike walled up to her and said "Ok, I freed you, now can you help me stop him?" Chrysalis nodded "I feel my normal power, but it's not enough. I don't have enough love to help." "Then take mine, I have to stop him and this future from happening." "Are you crazy? That will kill you." Chrysalis replied "And we'll both be killed if he succeeds. Please, before we lose more ponies from this future." Spike pleaded Chrysalis, after a few seconds, said "Very Well." Spike's screams were then heard as a pink shockwave of magic energy had pulsed out the walls of Tartarus. Although Spike was suffering, his determination to get home and stop Dark Spike from causing his future made him strong. After a few hours, the shockwave dissipated, and then Chrysalis transferred sone magic to Starswirl, who managed to regain his strength." After they finished, Chrysalis pulled out a dark black gem and Starswirl pulled out a tube like object on his belt and gave it to the dragon. "Here you need these." Chrysalis said "What are they?" Spike asked "Eat this gem, he put his amount of power and magic in this gem. I created the this tube to suck him in when weakened." Starswirl explained Spike grabbed both objects and first ate the dark gem and felt an immense power up. As he began to float, but quickly fell on the ground. "Ready, you guys two?" "I'm not coming, this is your future. You must stop it." Spike, while reluctant, complied and got ready to get home and said to Starswirl "Are you able to send me home?" Spike asked Starswirl nodded and said "Hold on!" He blasted his magic at Spike as he screamed. (Ponyville) Applebloom was trotting back home from class with her friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. "So girls, what should we do?" Sweetie Belle asked "Well, we got our Cutie Marks, now what?" Apple Bloom said As they trotted to Sweet Apple Acres, they noticed Dark Spike walking Dark Spike was meanwhile walking in the streets of Ponyville, overlooking the ponies with a blank look on his face, as he only said in his thoughts "I hope he's doing well with Chrysalis and Starswirl, those two will be destroyed later. Dark Spike eventually reached the Everfree Forest and said "Time to draw out the horses." Using his magic, he began to create an big red shockwave, as he glowed red. Two all too familiar figures had appeared. The first was a centaur who appeared, but looked more dark with bloodier red skin, while the second was an all too familiar changeling queen. "Is that Spike?" Scootaloo asked "And who's he with?" Sweetie Belle noticed They hid by a tree and listened in to the conversation "Tirek, attack Ponyville, Chrysalis, take Canterlot. Both of you draw out the girls and Princesses." Dark Spike said The two fakes nodded and left to obey. This shocked the Crusaders "He's with Tirek and Chrysalis?!" Apple Bloom said "Not quite" Dark Spike had appeared and then transformed in front of them his real teen form. He glared his blood red eyes at his former future friends while folding his arms together. "Your not Spike! " Sweetie Belle said "Oh but I am, or was, but i grew out of it." Dark Spike said "But wait, where is Spike?" Apple Bloom asked "Trapped in the pits of Tartarus." Dark Spike simply answered "What did you do?!" Scootaloo demanded "You'll understand soon enough." Dark Spike replied "Not until we tell-" Sweetie Belle said, but was cut off. "Who Twilight? Beat her, your sisters? Dealt with, the princesses? Finished, Discord? Straightened, Starlight Glimmer? Broken." Dark Spike mocked "Somepony will stop you!" Apple Bloom said to him "I'll count on it." Dark Spike answered and blasted them unconscious before leaving. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dark Spike was meanwhile in Tartarus in the past and currently looking through the cells "Where are you Tirek?" He then eventually saw a familiar cell with an elderly centaur and smirked before turning invisible. Tirek was sinply laying in the cell and looking around with a blank look on his face, until "Tireeeeekkkk." An unknown voice said "Who said that?" Tirek asked "Tireeeeeeekkkkkk." The voice said again "Who are you?! Show yourself!" Tirek demanded "Turn around." The centaur turned and saw the evil Spike face him and said "Who are you?" Dark Spike simply grabbed him by the neck and said "Your future." Tirek, now shocked from thus attack, had an idea and said "Not if your power is mine!" He attempted to steal the dragon's power, but nothing happened. "What?! Why isn't your magic draining!?" Tirek said in shock "Because i stole that power from you while you sat played like a fiddle you old fool." Dark Spike answered He then instantly snapped the evil centaur's neck, dropping his body in his cell. With a satsified look, Dark Spike said "Now for phase two." He then teleported out of the Tartarus. In Twilight's castle, she and her friends were together and with Starlight. Twilight first said as she and the girls had sat on their respective chairs. "Now I'm sure your all wondering why your here?" Twilight asked The girls nodded as Twilight then said "You may wanna look at the Cutie Map." They did so and saw the Cutie Map had all the girls cutie marks to Ponyville and the 3 princesses and Shining Armor's to Canterlot. But then Spike's icon appeared as well on both, but there was one minor difference of the icon. The green spike's were sharp and instead of light purple scales, the scales were darker. "Finally some action!" Rainbow Dash said "So where are we going?" Fluttershy asked "We have to go in Ponyville. But Cadance and Shining have to go in Camterlot with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. But thats not why I brought you here." Twilight said Starlight then revealed "We brought you here because of Spike." This confused the mares, as Rainbow Dash asked "What about Spike?" "Look at the map." Twilight told them. They did so and saw "Spike's" icon appear on both locations. Leaving the girls surprised. "He has 2 friendship mission's?!" Rarity asked "But how?" Applejack asked "I dont know? But when ours came on, his did as well." Twilight said "But wait, how is he going to do both at the same time?" Rainbow Dash asked A loud bang was heard and shook the castle "What was that?!" Twilight said The girls left the castle and saw an all to familiar figure attacking Ponyville. Twilight gave a look of fury upon recognizing him. "Tirek!" The centaur turned and blasted the girls, who narrowly dodged and began to battle him. As the centaur continued to attack. Dark Spike watched as he battled the girls. "Time for phase three." He teleported away from Ponyville. The Princesses and Prince Shining Armor were fighting Chrysalis in Canterlot and flew in the aky blasting magic at her. The princesses and Chrysalis with their wings and Shining with his magic. "This ends now Chrysalis!" Celestia said "Give up while you can!" Shining Armor said "Chrysalis" only refused to respond and continued to battle. As they fought, she suddenly disappeared in front of them. "Where did she go?" Cadance asked Dark Spike appeared behind and saw they were distracted and used the chance to blast them. "4 down, 7 more to go." Dark Spike said as he grabbed them each and used his magic to teleport them and dissipate the fake Chrysalis. Back in Ponyville, things were going not so well as no matter what attack they threw, "Tirek" only either phased his body like a ghost or dodged easily. "Why isn't he being hit?!" Rainbow Dash asked "My magic isn't even touching him!" Starlight said As they tries in vain to attack. "Tirek" suddenly disappeared. "What the?!" The girls shouted in surprise "Twilight!" A voice called out The girls turned and saw it was "Spike" and the Princesses along with Prince Shining Armor approaching. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight approached and hugged her mentor "Are you alright?" Celestia asked "Yes princess, we fought Tirek until something happened." Twilight said "He disappeared when we fought him." Starlight said "That is indeed odd, the same thing happened when Chrysalis attacked Canterlot." Luna said This statement shocked the girls. As Twilight asked "Wait, Chrysalis attacked Canterlot?!" "Yes, but oddly, it was only her and none of her Changelings were with her." Cadance said "This doesn't add up, first they suddenly attack and now they disappear. What's going on?!" Rainbow Dash said "Maybe they were just another prank of yours." "Spike" said in a tone of sarcasm, causing her to look at him as if he grew two heads "Spike, come on, I'm maybe a prank master, but I would never go that far." Rainbow Dash said in defense. "With all the pranks you and the others play on me and each other, i wouldn't be surprised. And you say your loyalty" "Spike" only said in a harsh tone The ponies were a bit surprised at the accusation the dark dragon made at the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash only gave a hurt look at the baby dragon as Applejack said in defense "That's enough Spike!, sure she maybe a jokester, but you shouldn't be pointing hooves at anypony." "You sure your not just covering for her? I mean you are the Element of Honesty and yet your never honest when it comes to yourself. Ps life isn't just about one fruit." "Spike" said in a sarcastic tone The dragon then walked away out of annoyance as the ponies only looked at him in disbelief at his rude actions and words towards the others. "Spike! That wasn't very nice! Apologize." Twilight said as she approached "Or what?" "Spike" said "That's enough Spike!" Starlight said in defense "No-one cares you hypocrital communist idiot! And by the way, if you wanted to live in an equal society, equal doesn't mean using your magic to control an entire village and showing an superiority God complex everytime you mention your magic." "Spike" replied in a harsh, adding tge last part with distaste and scorn. This left the pink mare silent and broken as "Spike" only looked with amusement, ready for the next phase. "Spike, what is going on with you?!" Twilight asked him, angry at his words The baby dragon was about to answer, until 3 familiar fillies arrived "We'll tell you what's going on!" The ponies lookes while "Spike" glared, it was none other then the Cutie Mark Crusaders! "Or instead show you!" Sweetie Belle said She then blasted her magic at "Spike" The immense blast began to remove his disguise and reveal his true form. After the blast was finished, he fell on the ground, exposed. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girls, Princesses, Shining Armor and other ponies looked down at the now exposed dark dragon. "That's not Spike!" Scootaloo said The moment she said this, the ponies angrily glared at him, with Twilight, Starlight, Shining and the princesses aiming their horns, ready to zap him. "Where is he?!, where's Spike!?" Twilight angrily demanded "What have you done to our FRIEND?!?" Shining angrily asked Dark Spike only laughed and said with a smirk in reply "HAHAHAHAHA!, I AM YOUR FRIEND!!!" "What?!" Twilight said as she was surprised at his answer. Dark Spike only flew in the sky and mockingly told his past former friends "What kind of friends were you anyway? The so-called pathetic hypocrital Elements of Harmony and none of you idiots could figure out your so called assistant had power as well!" This left the ponies shocked as he continued "But then again, it is partially all your faults i'm like this, especially from you Princess!" "Us?!, what have we ever done to you?!" Rainbow Dash asked "Hello?, the pranks, the abuse, the negligence, the insults. Are you really that stupid Rainbow Dash? Oh and Starlight?, thanks for the help, that's why when I deal with you, it'll be less painful." Dark Spike insulted "What?!" Starlight asked in confusion Dark Spike then explained "Don't you remember when you threw Spike into the time hole?" This left the girls silent as Applejack, now angry, said in defiance "You liar! We'll stop you!" Dark Spike then gave a frown and said "Actually nopony's stopping anywhere." He then blasted a green wave of magical energy at the ponies, trapping the CMC, Starlight and the Princesses on Twilight's castle and then fired 4 green blasts from his fingers on their horns while Twilight, Shining and the girls evaded it. "Your going down!" Rainbow Dash said They each attacked the dark dragon, but he fought back harder. Each time he would either dodge or counter. As Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy tries to distract him, he used his magic to create 7 clones that threw the two pegasi near the trapped princesses and Starlight. Twilight, Shining, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack tries to attack, but he was too quick and he knocked them into the ground with extreme brutality. Even destroying Pinkie's party cannon, countering Twilight and Shining's magic attacks and pummeling Applejack to the ground. He then eventually threw them into a magical hold and magically held them near the other princesses, blocking Twilight and Shining's horns whike doing so and savagly throwing Applejack with them. Rarity, seeing the harm her friends were in, quickly cartwheeled and tried to buck him from behind, but what happened next surprised her. He spectrally phased a hole in his chest! Where her forehooves were aiming! "Nice try Rarity." Dark Spike taunted The white unicorn pony gasped as she backed away, causing him to rephase the hole in his chest. Though Dark Spike only turned his neck 180 degrees and said "But me? My future?" He then turned his body 180 degrees next and said "I am inevitable." He then created 4 clones that caused Rarity to scream, but her mouth and horn were magically zapped and she was thrown near the castle next to the trapped ponies. "Now for the final touch!" Dark Spike sadistically said He then charged a magic blast from his arms and blasted a large dark green sphere at the top of the castle. "Once that sphere is dark enough, you'll all perish!" Dark Spike said with a sadistic grin The ponies looked at the laughing dark dragon, who was ready to personally finish them "Spike! Please! Don't do this!" Twilight begged "C'mon dude! We're your friends!" Rainbow Dash pleaded "Please Spike! Twilight helped me see friendship! You can do the same!" Starlight added "And we didn't mean to hurt you that way!" Celestia said "Ah ah! You WERE my friends, now I'm more better. Better then all of you or anyone else here in Equestria will ever be!!" Dark Spike said with a cold tone He then fired green magic blasts that covered their mouths. Laughing as he raised his arms, with his fingers giving off an dark green magic aura. The ponies looked in horror at their former friend's state, they were the cause of his dark fate? This made them each horrified at how the abuse was back to bite them. Twilight cried a few tears as she was about to meet a grim fate, while the others gave a look of fear. Until suddenly an all to familiar young voice was heard. "HEY OLD MAN!!!!" Dark Spike turned with dismay and said with offense "OLD?!!?!?!" From the darkened sky, a familiar dragon was seen speeding in until he came into view. The moment he did, the girl's spirits were raised and surprised at who it was. It was Spike, speeding down and descending at his older self. "Ready for a blast from your past?!" Spike said with a smile Dark Spike only gave a worried look and was whacked away as Spike flew to his trapped friends. "Don't worry, I won't turn into that, ever. I promise everypony." Spike was about to free them, until a dark green magical rope was tied on him. It was his older self! Dark Spike grabbed his young self, who only glared in defiance. "What are you gonna do? Destroy me? What happens to you then?" Spike asked his older self "You still don't get it do you? I'M still here in the present. That means I still exist. And that also means you still turn into me!" He then pulled his fist back and charged it with an dark green magic aura and savagely punched Spike into a nearby house as his dark self continued "I don't have to waste you, all I have to do is just run the clock out until your so called friends suffer a deserving fate. Then your entire life will fall apart. Just like they did to me!" With that said, Dark Spike charged at his younger self and began the final fight. > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Dark Spike charged at his younger self, Spike teleported from the blast. Dark Spike broke through the house looking for his young self. (Dark Spike Theme) "Maybe if you bothered to remember more about your friends or family, you'd remember the times we spent together!" Spike said as he teleported behind his dark self. He then flew up and pulsated a light green aura in his hand and touched Dark Spike's back, shocking him and causing him to shout in pain as an light green shock engulfed him. "Or how much the magic of friendship meant!" Spike said as he then punched his dark self to the ground, who fell into Sugarcube Corner. As Spike walked away, his dark self emerged enraged with sweets all over him. With a quick shake of himself, he grabbed his younger self and threw him on the ground Dark Spike glared at Spike and said "Your time is up Spike." While creating 3 more clones of himself, him and the clones continued "It's been up for 10 years!" The evil future dragon teen and his created clones began to beat down his young self mercilessly. First with a haymaker, then with an savage kick to Spike's chest and finishing with an dark green blast of magic from his arm. Spike was severely beaten and fell to the ground with bruises on his body as Dark Spike asked while dissipating his clones. "What makes you think you can change my past? Let alone theirs?" Spike struggled to get up as he glared at his older self "Because I promised my friends." This statement only amused Dark Spike, who only laughed in mockery at his young self for showing compassion. This deepens the glare Spike gave him while the ponies only glared at him as well. "HA HA HA! Oh you are such a child! You have to put up with their abuse and idiocy and that's all you have to say? You PROMISED?" Dark Spike asked with scorn and distaste. Spike, now fueled with more determination, furiously sweated as he snapped in fury and said "Yes, I PROMISSSSSSEEEEEEDDDDDDDD!!!!!" The young dragon let out the same wail of green fire rings at Dark Spike, who was shocked at this power being revealed as he was knocked to the ground. "That power and magic, it's impossible! I don't get it until 10 years from now!" Spike only glared at his older self and responded "Well I guess, the future isn't as predicted as you think it is!" With another power-up, Spike roared out another fiery wail that knocked his dark self into a building which crumbled all over him. Spike then fell on his knees exhausted from the amounts of magic he used to stop his evil self. As he was recovering, a hand emerged from the rubble and Dark Spike emerged. He was battered and bruised as he had cuts and bruises all over his chest and his sharp head spikes were now gone. He glared at Spike as he said in dismay "Well, that's it isn't it?" Spike angrily responded "Time's up!" He pulled the tube from his belt Starswirl gave him, aimed it at Dark Spike, opened the lid and it began to suck in the dark dragon, who began to struggle and said "It doesn't matter if I escape! And your already too late to save them!!!" Dark Spike screamed out a final "NOOOOOOOOOO!" as he was sucked in and was trapped inside. Spike closed the lid and saw the girls in danger, with the sphere about to explode any second. "Oh no." Spike said as he rushed and flew to save Twilight and the others. As he ran, Spike tries to fly, but his power was down and needed to recharge "I can't use my power!" Spike tripped as he yelled "NOOOOO!" The sphere exploded and the young dragon looked in grief and horror before being knocked back from the blast. Everything in the area froze until a portal next to Spike opened and a cloaked pony appeared out of it. The pony uses magic on Spike, who was still frozen, now to make him move and unfreeze. "Huh? What?" Spike said The young dragon looked at the cloaked pony and said "Starswirl?" The old unicorn stallion revealed himself to be the future Starswirl, who pointed behind Spike, who looked and saw his friends protected by a magical forcefield, with the ponies each frozen, floating. "I...I don't understand." Spike said in confusion "Time is like watching a parade, one event to another passing by in sequence and all the twists and turns that might...or might not take." Future Starswirl said, who then winked at the young dragon "Wait, you knew this was gonna happen. All of it. Even this part." Spike said in realization "Everything is the way it's supposed to be and here we are. An young dragon going through so much suffering to save those you care for." Spike smiled happily and handed over the tube his older self was trapped in to Starswirl, who put it in his bag. Starswirl then lit his horn and the area and said "You've given them a second chance, why not you?" Starswirl, with a smile disappeared as Spike smiled back and saw his friends were free and heading to him. "Spike!" The girls and Starlight said as they hugged him "Are you guys ok?" Spike asked them "We're fine, are you ok?" Starlight asked "A little bruised, but I'm fine." Spike said "That was awesome! The way you fought the evil you, saved us and whipped his flank!" Rainbow Dash said in excitement "Yeah about that.... the things he said" Spike said "Indeed my dear student, what did he mean when he said those things Twilight?" Princess Celestia asked "And why did he say you and the girls caused his transformation by the abuse, insults and negligence?" Shining also asked This surprised the girls as they began to sweat bullets from the looks the Princesses and Shining Armor gave them, while Spike looked with worry. > Chapter 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girls were silent at the glaring alicorns as Spike only stepped up and said truthfully "When i met him, he said he turned both him and the future that way because of the way you treated him. Remember the time back in last Hearth's Warming when I was frozen and all of you laughed?" Spike answered "But that was meant to be a joke!" Rainbow justified "And you didn't think to help me why? Plus i almost froze to death!" Spike responded This answer shocked the girls as they heard their friend continue "How about when it was Twilight's birthday, yet I wasn't invited." Spike further added in dismay "But we-" Twilight said "But what? You didn't think to bring me like the way you brought the girls? " Spike replied, his tone getting more harsher "Twilight, is this true?" Princess Celestia asked The purple alicorn didn't know how to answer, her and the Elements were left speechless and didn't know what to do or say "Answer the question, Twilight." Shining Armor further pressed "I-I...I didn't mean to hurt him." Twilight said "And yet from what the other Spike said, you and these 5 have. And on top of that, you pushed him too far onto a path of false hope." Princess Luna said in a betrayed manner "Twilight, how could you? You helped me regain my friendship with Sunburst and yet you do this to your own friends?" Starlight asked in disbelief "It's not just her to blame, it's ALL of you." Spike said This silenced the ponies as Cadance asked "What do you mean?" Spike, despite knowing the answer and the tragic fates of the ponies said "He also said you never had any trust in him and saw him as a threat and thought of personally dealing with him, not to mention that you were trying to keep your power for your own vanity. He said that to me himself personally and cried for goodness sake, he even told me how much you tortured him." "What? We would never do that!" Shining said in defense "Honestly I'm not sure if i should believe you at this point Prince Armor. I mean, it didn't stop you at the wedding when Chrysalis attacked, on top of it you didn't even bother to care or apologise. As well as Cadance with Twilight, Celestia with Tirek when he attacked and Luna with how she was during the whole Nightmare Moon fiasco." Spike answered The Elements, Starlight and the Princesses only gave looks of silence and were stunned at how the young dragon only expressed distrust and called him his royal name then his normal one. Not only that, but he was beginning to act like his dark self as Shining was left stunned at the baby dragon's answer. "I'm going to head out and cool off, I'll see you soon.....hopefully." Spike said Spike, using the powers from the gem he ate, teleported away, leaving his former friends behind, who looked on in disbelief. The girls were left in silence at the revelation, especially Celestia, Shining, Luna and Cadance. They only silently looked down at how they possibly lost a friend. Some of the ponies had different reactions, Fluttershy only cried behind her mane, Rainbow Dash tried to fight her sadness, but was in vain, Rarity only cried and smeared her makeup, Pinkie Pie's mane deflated and caused her to look down in sadness, Applejack was stubbornly trying to keep herself from breaking down, Twilight had it worse as she cried abd her eyes were red from her sobbing and was comforted by Starlight "We never meant to hurt him. It's just we were really busy had to do alot of work and-" Twilight said However, Celestia had enough of the muttering alicorn and shouted "ENOUGH!" The princess of the sun had furiously snapped and looked at her protegee, who cowered along with the others. "Twilight, walk with me. The rest of you go in the castle, we'll talk later." Celestia said in a dead serious tone The girls didn't need to be told twice and did so, followed by Luna, Cadance and Shining "Twilight do you know why I brought you here in Ponyville?" Celestia asked Twilight only looked at her mentor and said "Yes Princess Celestia." "Then if you were so busy all those years, why did you not speak with me about Spike?" "I thought that you were busy and that I had to do something and if I didn't, you would lose faith in me." Princess Celestia only looked at her apprentice and gave a look of guilt and sorrow at her state "Twilight, if you were so worried, why did you not speak with me about the matter?" Celestia asked Twilight answered "Because I thought that if I didn't, I would have lost my chance to make you proud of me." Celestia only looked down and felt a tinge of sorrow at the issue and said to Twilight with a frown. "My dear student, I will never be that way to you, I sent you here to learn more about the magic of friendship and solve friendship problems all over Equestria. But instead, you created a bigger one that had went against what I taught you. Needless to say, I am very disappointed in you and your friends. Word's can't describe how much I feel from this kind of act, not only for how you acted, but for thinking one of your friends and FAMILY even was some thing you and the others could take and use and then throw away." Twilight only looked down in tears as she kept trying to apologize, but only left her more degraded and Celestia look in disappointment. "I believe we should talk to your friends as well. They also clearly have a part of this and I want to find out what." Celestia said, as she teleported them both into Twilight's castle, with a sharp glare and Twilight a fearful gaze. Inside the castle, the girls were sitting in their chairs, with Princess Luna, Cadance and Shining. "Do you think Twilight is alright?" Rarity said "That depends what you mean. Her life, dignity or status?" Rainbow Dash asked "From what you said Dash, I'm pretty sure she'd lose all 3 of those by now." Applejack responded There was a flash behind them and they saw none other then Celestia, ready to speak. > Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spike was flying in the skies of Ponyville and was currently crying as he flew. The poor baby dragon had to first go through having to stop an evil version of himself from the future, but having to confront the source of it? He was betrayed and heartbroken at the fact that it was none other then the girls and in some level, some of the citizens of Ponyville. As he had began to fly, he had managed to reach a quiet spot near a cliff and simply looked at the sky. "Is this my fate? Having to turn evil because of my friends? Or if they were friends at all?" Spike thought As the young dragon looked at the sunny sky, he only began to ask himself that question further more and then flew away, unaware he was watched by 3 familiar figures. Princess Celestia faced the 5 mares along with Starlight, Cadance, Shining and Luna, and said "Well? I'm waiting for your answer." Princess Celestia said The mares were all looking down at the glaring alicorn, though they still didn't answer. Twilight, knowing the tip of the iceberg had been crossed said "Girls, it's time to come clean. " "With what? What have we done to offend him?" Rainbow Dash asked, still confused Twilight, now fed up and annoyed said "Are you kidding?! You should know from all the pranks you and Pinkie played on him all the time! Like that prank with the thundercloud!" "Oh yeah those were such good times! The look on his face was priceless! Right Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash said with disregard "You bet Dashie!" Pinkie agreed "Well it wasn't funny with HIM!, you both could've killed him with that!" Twilight, shouted as he slammed her hooves down, leaving them surprised. "But...we..we didn't mean..." Pinkie said, but was cut off "You didn't then, but what if something goea wrong next time? And what if Spike got really hurt? THEN what would you do? The both of you could have been arrested!" Twilight said "And on top of it you two, your elements would likely disown you!" Celestia said in disgust "Twi, Celestia, wait!" Rainbow Dash protested, but was cut off "And the time when he nearly froze to death in Winter-Wrap up and we didn't help but laugh, and now I feel that one was on me!" Twilight further pressed on "Twilight, would you chill? The important thing is Spike's ok and got over his cold." "Ugh, Rainbow Dash, your so insensitive!" Twilight said with a scowl "Excuse me?" The cyan Pegasus responded "It was YOUR idea to put him in that block of ice! Waiting for him to drown!" Twilight notified "Um, let's rephrase that. The idea wasn't to 'drown' him, it was more like a 'cold shower wake up call.'. Besides we've done that prank a bunch of times before you came to Ponyville, Twi. I even did it to AJ and she got out ok. Right AJ?" Rainbow Dash justified "Yeah, i got out alright, after a few sniffles. But only you would raise the stakes for a kid Dash" Applejack said in a grumble "See?! That's exactly what I mean!" Twilight pointed out "Hey I didn't know the lake was THAT cold then?! And I said sorry like everypony else! How were we supposed to know dragons were sensitive to the cold? If anything, you should've known that Twilight! Your the egghead! So it's kinda your fault." Rainbow Dash responded "Rainbow Dash! How dare you try to blame Twilight!? You ought to know better, because back then Spike was still a child and from what that other evil Spike said, you are just a major reason of what happened to him! Would you do that to Scootaloo?" Fluttershy scolded Rainbow Dash only slumped down, unable to argue before saying "Well then, what about you Twilight?! Like how you constantly overwork him, leave him behind and made him feel replaced with that pet owl of yours! He even ran away from home for Celestia's sake!" Twilight only looked down and said in response "Hey! You are just as guilty in those first two things then we are! Plus I wanted to HELP him! I know he can't work overnight! And from what I remember, YOU were the one that said he isn't like any dragons during the dragon migration you half minded fool!!!" "Well at least I didn't use him as a test dummy during the Iron Pony competition!" Rainbow Dash answered "Like your no better then Rarity!" Applejack countered "I beg your pardon?! Where did you start-" Rarity said upon hearing Applejaxk's statememt, but she cut her off and continued "Dont chu play the stinkin innocent card! It's clear 24/7 Spike is head over heels for you! He practically worships you! But to you he's just an errand boy you take advantage of!" Applejack pointed out "Now listen here!" "And don't get me started on how you make him do YOUR work, job and I'm pretty sure luggage cause your to darn lazy to do it yourself. BTW, ya don't need everything on a trip to go to! Not only that, but you swindled him out of a Fire Ruby and didn't even care!" Applejack further said "DON'T YOU DARE SAY I DON'T CARE ABOUT SPIKE!" Rarity said This was the breaking point as Twilight, Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining all shouted "ENOUGH!" "We didn't come to watch you all complain and argue! This is a very serious matter and you should all be the Elements you are and settle the matter instead of further creating it!" Celestia said "Not only that, but Spike might think badly of us more if we don't fix this!" Twilight said Seeing they had gone off topic, the girls all gave solemn looks and slumped in their chairs and continued the meeting. "We need to have this talk because I wanted it for Spike's sake. It's already bad enough how that evil future Spike almost killed us, and for a good reason too! It hurts me to realize how much we've left him behind on lots of things, aside from Friendship missions, and I want to set things right between us and him. You should know that, as well as how Spike is precious to me, not just as a friend, but as family! And how honored I am to be his family! And i want him to know that!" Twilight said in a wholehearted voice. Applejack stepped up to Twilight and tipped her hat and put a hoof on her shoulder "Twi, you know I'm a family mare, and I completely respect your family relationship with Spike, and I can't imagine losing a family member to an future that gone and having to fight them. I mean, we're all in one big family gathering right now aren't we?" Applejack said, getting some agreement from the girls amd princesses. However, she saw the one small throne empty in the room "Well, most of us, that is. Though, no that I think about it, I guess we did sort of lost track of Spike now and then. Oh crab apples. Poor fellas had to go through this much hearbreak didn't he? Maybe that evil him had a point in trying to kill us." Applejack said "Oh my, the poor thing." Fluttershy said in guilt with a whimper. "I know I came a little harsh sometimes. And i get it, I can be a little insensitive, but I really do care about Spike, I just wish he knew that. Or how much I could take back all those things I've said to him, and all those pranks and tricks I did to him. I guess I deserve....no, I know I deserve that when that evil Spike attacked, he almost pulled off one of my wings for how much I was to him." Rainbow Dash said, with a sad frown on her face. "I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO FORGET SPIKE! I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP FORGETTING HIM! I WAS DOING WHAT THE WRITERS WROTE ON THE SCRIPT! I DESERVED IT WHEN THAT MEANIE SPIKE DESTROYED MY CANNON AND QUOTED DAN PHANTOM!" Pinkie bawled in sadness, and was held by Fluttershy "Shhhh, there, there." Fluttershy comforted Pinkie Celestia then said in a heartfelt tone "I feel i also must add my dearest apologies for not having time to help him. He always has so much to do and we expected so much from him. I believe that what the future Spike did was an deserving penance to us all then when we put threats of Equestria in Tartarus." "And how he defeated Sombra and even though he earned the title 'Spike, the Brave amd Glorious', the way we were to him made him feel so different. I think from how the way evil Spike was like Sombra, we don't deserve our titles, especially since he turned that way because of us and our own selfishness." Cadance said. Rarity, being the last pony with an heartful apology for Spike had spoken up "I had never meant to come off as stuck-up and off-putting to Spikey-Wikey. In truth, I'm really happy to have he's around. Granted, I know he thinks highly of me, and yes I admit, sometimes I take advantage of his feelings to get some things done. But it's only because I enjoy hanging out with him, and I wanted us ti have done something together. Even for a dragon, he's very attentive, already to anticipate my needs, and he makes a great soundboard. But I guess I valued him too much. Especially after when that vile future version of him had a point when he almost killed us." Rarity said, drying a few tears in her eyes. "And I do hope we could make amends with the poor little darling." Rarity finished The ponies all gave solemn looks with sad nods. "But I guess in the meantime, we should let him clear his head like he said he was. " Shining said The ponies nodded and waited... but Twilight stood up "Twilight? What are you doing?" Shining asked "Standing around isn't gonna make Spike forgive us Shining! I know he needs his space, but we have to tell him how much he means to all of us. Are you all with me?" Twilight replied The girls each nodded and followed, with the Princesses and Shining following Outside of the castle, in the town of Ponyville. The CMC were walking around and gave each looms of hesitation as they walked to the castle. "Do you think we should tell Twilight and the others about Spike?" Sweetie Belle asked "I don't know, it's bad enough we each had a part to play for his future being this..." Scootaloo said, wondering of another word to finish her sentence "Dark and Evil?" Apple Bloom said "Yeah. And on top of it, it's like the whole Gabby Gums incident with us, but twisted." Sweetie Belle said "Do you think we should tell them where he is? I mean, we have no right but I dunno if they learned their lesson." Apple Bloom said As they continued to walk through town, they were left pondering what decision to make. "Yeah, but when that happened, we apologized to everyone and forgave us when we said the truth." Scootaloo pointed out As they continued, they heard a bunch of hoofsteps amd saw it was Twilight and her friends trying to find Spike. "Spike?! Where are you?!" Twilight said as she flew along with Rainbow and Fluttershy > Chapter 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The CMC watched as the girls looked around for their dragon friend. With the ponies eventually seeing them and heading over. "Girls, we need your help! " Twilight said in desperation "Let me guess, you all want to find Spike?" Apple Bloom asked "Yeah, have you 3 seen him?" Rainbow Dash asked "Yeah." Scootaloo said "But wait, how would you know what we were doing?" Rarity asked This left the three fillies silent as the girls looked at them. "Cause we're kinda looking for him too." Sweetie Belle said "We saw him at the exit to Ponyville and teleport away." Scootaloo added The ponies nodded and ran to the destination and began to search for the missing dragon Spike was currently flying away from his former home as far as he could. He had to find a way to stop his home from being destroyed. Not only that, but to think that the source of it was the Princess of Friendship of all ponies. As he flew away, he shed tears in his eyes out of betrayal. "And where are you off too?" An familiar voice said Spike turned around and saw it was none other then Discord himself. "What do you want Discord?" Spike asked "I believe you already know from what I asked you." Discord replied "I'm leaving Ponyville, what does it look like I'm doing?" Spike asked "It looks like your leaving your friends." Discord said with a frown Spike only winced at the last part and said in dismay "You don't know?" "Know what?" Discord asked Spike only looked down and began to tell Discord everything. The battle with Starlight, then with his evil self from the future, then how he managed to stop him from causing the destruction of Equestria itself as well as the destruction of his friends before he left them when he realized their selfishness caused his evil self to exist. With a bewildered look, Discord asked "So let me get this straight, Starlight Glimmer traveled back in time to stop the Rainboom, then put you in another timeline where an evil older you killed the Princesses, me and Fluttershy and her friends, then came here to make sure you become him by killing me and our world's Twilight and her friends and you stopped him with the help of the other world's version of Chrysalis and Starswirl? In fact that's why your flying in the sky. Then you left because of how the girls were treating you since they caused the evil you to turn evil from the beginning?" Discord said with need of clarification Spike nodded as Discord only looked with a saddened look on his face, he then sighed and said "Very well Spike, if you wish to make this choice, I respect your decision." Spike only nodded and said "Goodbye Discord. Say bye to Big Mac for me." Discord acknowledged his answer with a nod as the young drake flew away once more to an unknown location. The ponies were heading over to the path that showed the exit to Ponyville. They ran with every ounce of breath in their lungs to see their dragon friend once more. "Spike!?" Twilight called out as she flew in the air "Spikey-Wikey? Where are you?!" Rarity shouted The ponies continued to call out to their friend, until they noticed a familiar face, it was Discord, who only gave a blank look to them. "Discord? What are you doing here?" Celestia asked him The spirit of chaos only looked at the girls and said "I can ask you each the very same question." "You know too huh?" Rainbow Dash said rhetorically "Yes and seriously, I understand that you each liked to mess with him, but come on. Using him for your own selfish needs, nearly killing him, but hurting him to the point where he turns evil and destroys and kills the entire PLANET aside from Ponyville? Even I myself would never drop to that level of despicable." Discord said, his tone showing his clear disappointment at the girls The girls looked down at the point he made, even though Discord had his moments and was neormally humorous and funny, it shifted to him being funny to outright dead serious, firm and in a way angry. Cadance stepped up to him and said "Listen Discord, we know what we did was wrong and we want to make up for it. Have you seen Spike anywhere?" Discord was left pondering his decision as to what choice he should make: Forgive the girls and help make amends or let Spike leave them and find an uncertain future to avoid the one that almost occured with his evil self. As Discord pondered his choice, he let out a breath of air and said "He left Ponyville near the exit, but he didn't say where." The ponies nodded and headed there, hoping that they had not missed him. Until Fluttershy saw that Discord was not joining them and asked him "Aren't you coming Discord?" Discord only looked at her, his eyes showed clear reluctance as he saw the begging eyes of not just her, but that of her friends who were desperately trying to apologize to their lost friend. Twilight even showed the tears in her her eyes at how she realized her selfishness and wanted to apologize to Spike. Discord, seeing how much the predicament was affecting them said "Very well, but this changes nothing of what you did. Remember that." The ponies nodded and ran to their destination. Spike was flying in the sky and gave a emotionless expressiom as he flew thank to his recharged power, he pondered as to whether him leaving would change the future or worsen it instead. As he was contemplating hus decisions, he began to notice someone was behind him. "Spike!" A familiar voice cried out to him The baby dragon turned and saw the very last few people that he needed to see right now. "Spike! There you are!" Twilight said in relief "What. Are. YOU. Doing. Here?" Spike said in a tone of fury as he clenched his teeth. > Chapter 10 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The baby dragon glared at his former friends as they only looked at him, ready to speak their mind. "Spike, we just wanna talk." Cadance said, trying to calm him down "What's there to talk about? I don't wanna see you all right now." Spike said He turned to fly away, but Discord moved in front of him. "Spike wait, let them talk." Discord protested "Discord, move, I don't have time for this. In fact, when did I have time at all like I told you?" Spike said "Spike just let them-" Discord said, until Spike cut him off. "Discord, i'm WARNING you." Spike said in a dead serious tone. This surprised the girls, the days events began to make him more fed up, with Discord taken aback by the threat, but stood his ground. Discord gave a look of sorrow before facing his friend "I know, but please, just hear them out, and after that you can leave." Spike, with a quick glance at the girls, princesses and Shining and then to Discord before facing the ponies. With a look of annoyance and disdain, Spike said "What do you want this time?" The princesses, Starlight and Shining backed away to let the girls speak with the dragon. "We realize that evil you from the future was right." Twilight said with guilt and remorse. "What?" Spike said in surprise at her answer "When he almost killed us for how we treated you over the years, we deserved it. Us and the girls should have never hurt you that way." Shining said with guilt "And because of us and our selfishness, we didn't just ruin the future of friendship. We ruined the future of Equestria." Applejack said with her hat down as she covered her guilt ridden facial expression. "Ok, what the hay are you saying?!" Spike said, now finally annoyed by their words The girls jumped back a little bit from his outburst, but accepted it with dignity as Twilight, unable to take it said in tears "Spike, we're saying we're sorry!" This shocked the ponies and Spike as he just looked and saw the state Twilight had now gone in, turning from guilty to emotional in a heartbeat. This began to affect the girls as they knew how much Spike meant to her and realize now that things had to be set right. Rainbow Dash was first as she said in guilt "I was supposed to be loyal to my friends but I wasn't to you, we always used you and didn't care. We were wrong to hurt you that way! Like I did with my pranks and how I kept making fun of you on how you weren't a real dragon! I'm sorry! That evil you was right when he almost ripped off my wings. I was nothing to you but a bully. I know you don't believe me, but I am really, really, seriously sorry!" Spike only looked in shock at the girls as he was about to say something, but Pinkie cut him off, and he noticed a key difference, her mane was flat and her normal hyper personality was missing. "When that meanie you from the future almost destroyed us and ruined our homes, he was right, we hurt you so many times that we lost count and didn't even care. I'm the element of Laughter and I was supposed to make everypony smile, but I didn't even notice it with one of my friends that had to make this much sacrifice to make sure we can be happy with our lives. I'm sorry I didn't invite you to my parties and I'm sorry I didn't care about you like I did with the girls and I'm sorry probably the worst friend you ever met!" Spike was only silent as the party mare apologized, he then saw Fluttershy come next with a look of guilt "When I was friends with the girls and most ponies during our friendship missions, I didn't realize that I was ignoring one of the many friends I knew when I met Twilight. One who had to make so much sacrifice and make difficult decisions. That evil you was right Spike, we were the Elements of Harmony, but we were never heroes. In fact, this might be a friendship problem we were the cause of, yet we didn't solve it, we MADE it happen." Spike was about to again ask something "Wait, why are-?" However, he was cut off again, this time by Applejack who gave a look of remorse as she tipped her hat and looked at Spike. "Spike, when that other you attacked, I kept thinking that when he said to us the reason he existed, it was because of us. I didn't want to believe him, but he was right, we kept on using you so many times, none of us even bothered to care about thanking you or showing a bit of gratitude for how hard you worked when we were in trouble. That evil you showed us how much we disgraced the Elements of Harmony. We may wield them, but we don't represent them." The next to speak was Rarity as she said had makeup smeared on her face because of her tears as she gave a sad look at Spike. "Spikey-Wikey, I understand how much you despise to see me right now. But please know that I am very sorry for how I was to you all these years. When the vile you from the future attacked us, he made me realize what a horrible friend I was to you, not to mention that with how we were to you, our fates were inevitable. He was right, I may be the Element of Generosity, but I never showed it to a close friend who helped both me and everypony else around when needed." Spike was left surprised at how they were apologizing to him, they must have been really frightened and shocked at how his evil self must've done what no other could, break and almost kill the heroes of Equestria. The final one to speak up was Twilight, who only looked broken and demoralized compared to the rest of the girls. "Spike, when I was sent here to Ponyville by Princess Celestia, it was to learn the values of Friendship and how much more it can be not just in here in Ponyville, but all across Equestria. As we both grew up, I kept neglecting you, the very first friend and family I made ever since I moved here to Ponyville and got the Golden Oaks Library before Tirek destroyed it. I was supposed to be the Princess of Friendship and yet I didn't show the same amount of friendship I had with everypony else. I guess I wasn't meant to be the Princess of Friendship after all, especially after that darker, older you told me why he became who he is now. He was right, I'm not the Princess of Friendship or The Element of Magic, I'm no better then any other villain we faced, he was right Spike and we were wrong." The speech from Twilight left the Princesses, Starlight, Shining, Discord and the girls surprised and a bit pitying for the alicorn, Spike only looked at them with a look of some pity but also of disgust. In his mind, there were sides in conflict, one of light, the other dark as his dark self was. "She may have hurt you, but this is going too far, let it go. More conflict and hate will only lose your way." The light in Spike said "Forget that, they deserve it!, destroy them NOW!, they aren't heroes or friends, they're hypocrites who deserve that future that other you almost did!" The dark in Spike refused in disgust and hatred Spike gave a quick sigh of breath before asking a final question "Then why was I so easy to forget? Am I just another fire breathing reptile for your own greedy, selfish needs?" This somewhat offended the girls, but they put it aside, knowing they deserve it. Rarity said with a tearful frown "No! Of course not, darling! We always appreciate you for being yourself." "It's just we were so busy with alot of stuff, we kinda overlooked! We didn't mean to forget ya! I even forget some stuff too. It ain't just you Sugarcube." Rainbow Dash stepped up and said "And i'm sorry if I made feel bad with my jokes and pranks. I tease lots of ponies and creatures. But I didn't mean to hurt anypony's feelings. Well maybe except for Discord, but still. Look Spike, if it makes you feel any better, I'd give up apple ciders for the rest of my life, for every cruel joke and prank I pulled." Spike however was still in conflict, and was left intrigued at her claim (with Discord glaring at her for the last bit about him, but he decided to ignore it). Anypony who knew Rainbow Dash enough know full well of her obsession with cider. Hearing her give up on her favorite beverage was rare among them. Spike then began to open his mouth and said with a firm tone "Do you Pinkie Promise?" "If that's how you want it. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. " Rainbow Dash said "And if it's not too late, I could throw you a 'We're sorry and We Love you and Spike is a true hero Party'" Pinkie offered as Spike only turned away a bit and brushed her off "Is that a no?" "I don't exactly have a choice do I?, with having to choose someone else like I did with Garble and his gang." Spike said "Don't be so hard on yourself, sugarcube. You were still just learning and growing up. Now your more wiser and smarter then you were back then." "Just like all of us!" Pinkie chirped with optimism Twilight moved to hug him, but he backed away a bit with a look of distrust, which fueled as he readied himself to counter, as his hands glowed a light green magic fiery aura. Seeing he was still hesitant, Twilight said with sincerity "Your not a foreigner Spike. Your're our friend and we still love you, pony or dragon. Please don't forget that. And i can Pinkie Promise that we'll treat you better in the nearest future, even if we have to face that evil you when Starlight attacked. I don't know if we can make it up to you or if you forgive us, but-" Spike however, dissipated his magic aura and hugged Twilight and said "You already have." "So, do you forgive us?" Twilight asked hopefully to him "I wouldn't be a friend to ANY of you would I? As long as i don't have to fall in ice cold water again." Spike said with a smile, making the girls and Discord smile in honor "We'll make sure that doesn't happen." Applejack said with a chuckle "So what do you say Spike, what do you feel like doing today?" Twilight asked "For now let's head home." Spike answered, getting some nods from the girls "Agreed" Discord said The ponies, Spike and Discord, headed back to others and began to make their home, having gained a newfound resolve. As they left, their Cutie Marks and Spike's head spikes glowed, indicating they completed their friendship mission. (At the Castle of Friendship) The icons on Ponyville and Cantelot not only faded, but the Dark Spike icons switched back to normal, turning back to the normal icon for Spike, light purple and light green. (Unknown Location in Alternate Ponyville) Future Starswirl was seen watching the ordeal with Spike and the ponies through a magical portal as two solar guards approached along with Future Chrysalis "I take it he has averted his evil self's existence?" Future Starswirl replied "Correct, and yes, all the damage he has done to the past has been undone. But that doesn't mean he will disappear." Future Chrysalis had only said "Let us hope that a better future then this will come." "I know, but then again, who does?" Future Starswirl said He walked over and placed the tube Dark Spike was in on the nearby pedestal and trotted back to the portal. However, unbeknownst to them, the tube began to shake and dents hit the sides, with Dark Spike's face hitting the center. Though he was still trapped......for now, with nothing holding him back.